Just when everyone was going about their businesses and making plans for the next move, there came the Coronavirus pandemic, a plague that no one was prepared for. As the number of infected people increased by the day, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state ordered a shutdown of offices, markets, places of worship and the courts in the state effective from Thursday March 26, 2020. To many, this a right step to take, but for many Lagosians, this directive have serious implications for their businesses and lives. Some shared their views with JOY NGWOLO on their level of preparedness for the shutdown.
‘I don’t know how I will cope yet’ -Aremu Olanrewaju, Oshodi
I don’t know how I will cope yet but I know that God is in control. Due to the nature of my job, I cannot work from home, which means that for this period, there will be no transport allowances and wages, the shutdown will affect me seriously.
‘I don’t have a plan’ -Emem Glory, Isolo
I don’t have any plans. I only put my trust in God because there is no money anywhere not even in an account where I can say I want to go and withdraw my money, nobody planned for this. I don’t know if it will affect my business because I sell food but if it does, I think it is better to stay at home than to run into a big problem.
‘I will stick with what I can afford’ – Peace Udoh, Isolo
The Nigerian economy is not prepared for the Coronavirus pandemic. Although it may be difficult to cope, there is nothing we can do about it because it is for our own lives. If you can afford three-square meals, fine but if you cannot, simply drink water with the hope that one day it will this pass away, we should also be prayerful.
‘We just have to endure it’ -Abiodun Oluwaseun, Mushin
It will affect us because in Nigeria, there is no security plan. In other countries, government pays their citizens a token of money. We just have to endure because there is nothing we can do about it especially as it is a directive from the government. I pray that God provides for us and Coronavirus leaves us for good.
‘I will continue working from home’ – Nonso Obiogbolu, Ago
I believe that we will survive it, I have no fear. I will continue working from home, if any of my clients needs to get their job done, I will ensure that their requests are met.
‘I feel helpless’ – Williams Fiarama
Although the shutdown is a good idea because of safety reasons, it will affect me because I work with the market people and markets will be closed. I feel so helpless now because there is no back-up plan.
