Coronavirus: Lagosians Lament Lockdown

Some residents of Lagos state are left lamenting following the lockdown directive that took effect on the night of Monday, March 30.

Ekohotblog went round some parts of Lagos to monitor the compliance level in the state.

Speaking with some residents who defied the lockdown order, some blamed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the urgency in the lockdown while wondering why he didn’t emulate his Ogun State counterpart.

A resident of Fagba area in Ifako-Ijaiye, Abayomi, said that the 24 hours notice was too sudden for a busy state like Lagos.

He said: “To be candid, the sudden lockdown was too sudden. How do they expect a state as busy as Lagos to go on lockdown within 24 hours? The rush to get the thing done on Monday was so much that I spent hours in traffic and entered so late. The decision was too hasty in my judgment.”

A lady who resides in Ishaga, Abimbola, speaking with Ekohotblog, said that most of the bike riders have gone to Ogun State to work since the lockdown has been postponed in the state (Ogun).

Read Also: Lagos, Lockdown and Later

“This place is closer to Ogun state, and most of the okada riders have gone to Ogun state to work. Their governor has postponed the lockdown till Friday to allow people to prepare ahead. I wish Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had done the same. The notice was too short,” she lamented.

Ekohotblog also visited the Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) Automated Teller Machine (ATM) located at Jungle in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of the State. On getting there, there was a long queue of people waiting to use the ATM.

One of those of the queue, a lady who identified herself as Mrs. John, said that she was forced to go to the ATM as all efforts to withdraw the day before (Monday) proved abortive.

She said, “As you can see, over 40 people are waiting to use the ATM here. Yesterday, it was even worse because everybody wanted to be ready for the lockdown. I visited three ATMs, but the number of people I saw discouraged me.

“The POS people have increased their rate. Imagine, I wanted to withdraw 10,000 naira and I was told I would pay three hundred naira charges. Before, it used to be two hundred naira. That was why I had to come here. I am certain it would get worse.”

Samson, an obviously angry resident, couldn’t hold back his anger at the state and federal government for the lockdown directives.

“It is obvious that we do not have leaders who are in sync with the people. How do you give a lockdown directive with a short notice. The president gave the order on a Sunday and said it would take effect on Monday night. How do you expect the people to cope?

“The Lagos state governor also followed the order. Now, people are really suffering more. The directive is not even clear. I saw police harassing food sellers today. Is that what this is all about. We are really not ready,” he said.