By Osarennoma Ogbeide
No one truly anticipated that this pandemic would last this long. Unfortunately, the numbers keep skyrocketing by the day and we are puzzled; not just because many don’t know their fate but because soon it won’t be the virus killing people but hunger and starvation.
Many people have been laid off at this time, others have had their salaries slashed and people who have businesses have been running at a loss. What of those people who get their income from the daily labour they engage in? Their services aren’t essential now and they are therefore left with little or nothing to cater for themselves and their families. Even if they had some savings prior to the pandemic, it’s been weeks of joblessness. It is depleting quickly.
The lockdown was put in place for our safety but the government has been able to understand the plight that Nigerians have been facing, hence the relaxing of the lockdown allowing people to gradually conduct some activities.
Just a couple of days into the adjustment, we see massive crowds at atms, markets and bus stops. Even our people in Gombe state decided to hold a protest. One is left to wonder if we have forgotten that there is an unwelcome visitor in our midst. Now, the numbers only keep multiplying and this situation can be referred to as a dilemma.
Even the country has been forced to reevaluate its economy. Crude oil has no value in sales now and some citizens give the “I told you so” look to the leaders. It has been overemphasized that Nigeria should go deeper into agriculture and work on building industries that will refine our resources within the country. Imagine if we imported all our major food products and because of the closed borders, we are unable to bring food into the country. It would only be a matter of time before our country is swept with with a wind of hunger and famine and we definitely don’t want that.
This is a dilemma, yes! The plight of the people can be understood and the effort of the government can be seen. What we need now is to synchronize the cooperation between both parties and hope for the best, it will be well.
