The lockdown order has been eased-off in Lagos, Ogun States and Abuja to allow businesses to open shop again. But sadly, we are yet to see the end of COVID-19 nor has a cure been found. Lagos, with its over-flowing population and sprawling slums, may find itself in deeper crisis than anticipated because these are risky features that may exacerbate the rapid spread of COVID-19. Of course, the Lagos Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu isn’t fiddling while the city is aflame. He is living up to expectation but if you were Lagos State Governor, what would you do differently? AMAKA OKEMADU spoke to a cross-section of Lagosians what they would do differently if they were in Governor Sanwo-Olu’s shoes.
“The pump price of fuel will be reduced for commercial public buses”- Tom Nta
Considering the population of Lagos state, it will be difficult to control the spread of this virus with the easing-off of the lockdown order. However, if I were the governor, the under listed measures are what I will put in place using competent and responsible personnel: Lockdown should be extended. Palliatives can be distributed to the populace through wards as it’s done during elections. There should be compulsory use of face masks and mounting hand-washing materials at strategic points like the ATM centres, entrance to market places, and other places essential workers are making use of. The masses would be sensitized using personnel that have in-depth knowledge of this virus such as health workers.
Law enforcement agents would be enlightened the more on carrying out their duties diligently because some of them are used as tools to sabotage the efforts being made by the government.
Making use of health workers that have gone through professional training rather than employing the services of novice (with just 3days workshop knowledge) to fight this virus to minimize the rate at which health workers contract this virus.
I’d reduce the pump price of fuel for commercial public transport so as to enable them to carry the 60% passengers as directed by the government because none of the bus drivers would want to be on shortage or else the passengers will suffer the brunt when the fares go up. Also, all the area boys would be removed off our roads permanently. Many BRTs would be available to ease the stress of the commuters. Schools will remain shut down and social gathering will continue to be put on hold till we are able to overcome this pandemic.
“I will gather a team of professionals and then marshal a plan…our team will work tirelessly to find a vaccine and not wait for the West or Asia”- Fola Mann
First things first, I’ll shut down all borders; air, land and sea for the first two weeks and mount Isolation camps around these borders, with well-equipped medical teams doing the health monitoring. I’ll then gather a team of seasoned professionals, commissioner for health, scientists specializing in virus and bacteria, medical practitioners and professors in the field.
We will get to understand the complexities of the virus and draw up an immediate and long term plan. I will also have another forum for local government chairmen, House of Representatives, financial institutions, security agencies, religious leaders, traditional rulers and the ministry of information Lagos state. Every info gathered from these forums will be used to marshal a strategic masterplan for the people of Lagos state, while the media with the ministry of information will bombard the airways with preventive measures. This will be phase one of the revelation stage. Phase two will be the budget and planning stage where every necessary need to combat the pandemic before there’s a vaccine is budgeted and purchased, every doctor and nurse, security operatives would be well kitted up. Every necessary arrangement for food, face masks and sanitizers across the entire metropolis and suburb will also be in the budget.
The third and final stage will be the implementation/execution and distribution stage. Here those strategies will then be fleshed out via the appropriate channels and operatives. Relief palliatives and materials would have been in place before embarking on lockdown if necessary, and the borders will be gradually and partially opened as anything or anyone coming in will be screened and isolated for 14 days. Each local government will have a full and well-furnished COVID-19 centre with well-kitted staff and operatives.
While all these are properly monitored, our team of scientists and researchers will be working tirelessly to find a vaccine and not waiting for the West or Asia. And those teams will metamorphose into a dull blown established agency for pandemic /disease control. I will totally revamp the health sector in Lagos state, even after the pandemic is over we will not lower our hygiene standard. We’ll maintain a very high hygiene standard adopted during the pandemic.
“I would restrict movement into Lagos by any means”- Folashade Olanrewaju
If I were the governor, yes, I would stop school children from going to school but I wouldn’t have abruptly stopped economic activities as was the case. In my opinion, coronavirus has been politicized in this country. It is said that disease this deadly is used to loot funds, which just shows the extent at which we don’t value human life, unfortunately, that’s just who we are as a people.
The whole shutting down of some states was because countries like the USA and China also shut down.
During the Ebola outbreak, did we shut down? Was Ebola not deadly? My point exactly is that we didn’t have enough figures to justify the shutting down of the economy. The after-effects of shut down will affect only the masses. Just wait till next week, there will be a massive retrenchment- as it is, most contract staff must be crying by now. If I were the governor, I would have put a lot of restrictions on movement into Lagos by any means and then make the use of nose covers compulsory and install a lot of checkpoints which is a bit easier if they started it from the workplaces.
That would have been my step one decision. I will only lockdown if things get out of hand. Take for instance, at the beginning, you had to use sanitizer before you could enter the bank. In other words, the use of sanitizer will prevent a carrier from spreading it through handshake or touching. If these measures are made compulsory at all business units plus the use of face masks, then we would have restricted the spread.
“I will break down the number of household inhabitants into smaller bits”- Adekunle Aliu.
As the governor of Lagos state, much is within my power to tackle this pandemic but to pinpoint a few; I will engage the mass by truly educating them about the virus. Most don’t understand what the virus is about, they perceive it as just another random rumour circulated by close friends and relatives. With this education, proper prevention will follow and other needful tools will also be provided to guide against the virus since there is yet to be a cure.
Inasmuch as our major fight is against the gathering of many people, I will look into each home and break them down into smaller units. Each household should not have more than five inhabitants. I will take out the mature once and build a comfortable home around them. Therefore providing more accommodation for the masses. This will, in turn, provide low-cost housing for families and further develop the state to accommodate a breathing space which is the vital protection against the virus.
“Government needs to stop working amongst themselves only, they need to think tank with private professionals”- David Ogundero
If we must continue to practice social distancing in the middle of life as usual, then Lagos will need to be proactive. I will work with the BRT companies before the announcement of the relaxation to release the many buses that are not in use but are in good condition and employ more drivers for it, so as to service the other passengers that will not be accommodated in danfo buses since danfo buses that usually carry 14 passengers has been mandated to reduce the number to about eight. We must not forget that the majority of Lagosians ride on danfo and keke vehicles.
These danfo drivers will also receive proper enlightenment on personal hygiene, most of them don’t know what personal hygiene is, some of them don’t even bathe before going out for the day’s work. I will also look into checkmating the heavy traffic on Lagos road, because the faster it becomes for these commercial drivers to turn over, the more likely they will be to obey the passenger reduction instruction.
I would ensure massive sensitization of people at market places, garages, public schools and fumigate these places, especially the markets at the close of business every day. The same fumigation practice will be mandatory at banks, factories and other public places because this virus is airborne and the more we fumigate the lesser the chances of retaining the virus on surfaces or passing it onto others.
Hand-washing facilities, soap and water will be installed at vital points of entry and exits even at BRT parks. I’d work with people who can develop these facilities. It is high time the government stopped working amongst themselves only, they need to think-thank with professionals who have proven themselves in their areas of specialization. These professional guys are rich in their service delivery, some of them are ready to give their services for free. The government needs to invest in the area of research and data and incorporate community-based ideas. The public needs to be involved to gather their knowledge too.
“I’ll encourage the use of infrared thermometers in public and private transaction centres”- Nike Oropo
If I am the governor of Lagos State, to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic, every one going out would be wearing a facemask. I will set up a secret watch, aside from the law enforcement agencies in each L.C.D.A’s to monitor the affairs in mosques, churches, viewing centres, beer parlours or relaxation centres and any place where the rules and regulations are violated for a quick report. The inflow and outflow of people in markets, supermarkets and other grocery centres will be regulated. I’ll encourage the use of infrared thermometers in many public and private transaction centres. Strictness on human migration from anywhere in the world into Lagos State will be observed, anyone coming into Lagos State must be tested to be negative and all database of such persons would be taken as regards its location in the state. I will encourage online pay as you are delivered transactions where social distancing will be practised. I’ll continue with the house to house testing exercise and make available a quick response team in any case of coronavirus attack in any area and continue with the public awareness on the Coronavirus pandemic in all L.C.D.A’s using different languages on the public address system.
