Lockdown Ease: Less Than 20% Of Epe Business Owners Complied With Government Directive, EkoHotBlog Surveys

It was reported that the Federal Government recently announced the order of relaxation of the lockdown, which is billed to take effect today, May 4th, 2020.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the relaxation came with a directive to obey by the citizens of the country which includes; Social distancing.

Others are; wearing of a nose mask, regularly washing of hands, visit to test centre when there are symptoms of coronavirus, among several other directives.

The decision of the Federal Government and Lagos State Government to relax the lockdown came with mixed reactions.

In Eko Hot Blog Survey, It is believed in some quarters that such a decision is a ticking time bomb owing to the fact that coronavirus cases recorded in the country have not yet subsided.

Another side of the divide believes, it is a good decision as the masses have been suffering all the while the lockdown was in place.

EkoHotBlog beamed its searchlight on the effect of the gradual relaxation of the lockdown in the ancient Epe town and it could be said that the situation is disastrous and alarming.

Read Also: BREAKING: Lagos Records Two New COVID-19 Deaths

General business and transport activities in the fish town escalated in the early hours of today, despite the downpour.

It is observed that there was no compliance of any form to the directives of the Lagos State Government as regards the relaxation.

Public transport drivers, Keke Napep a.k.a ( Marwa ), and motorcycle riders were seen going about their normal business at their designated parks without wearing a nose mask and disobeying social distancing directives.

Speaking with one of the motorcycle riders (okada), Mr Kunle Kadri, he lamented the adverse effect of the lockdown and was shocked at the decision of the government to ban their activities.

“This government is unfair to us and we will do our best to feed ourselves and family no matter what it takes. Even when you keep money at home without hustling for more, you will finish spending it.

 

“We are less concerned with the ban of a motorcycle in this part of the state, We have been on the lockdown for weeks and no money to feed on again.

“We need to come out and hustle for money to feed our family at home, ” he said.

On the directive of government for Keke Napep riders not to carry more than two passengers, it was observed that such directive didn’t go down well with the riders citing that they will run at loss.

Mr Abiodun Oyeneye, a tricycle rider, told Eko Hot Blog that, It is only God that can protect and guide us from coronavirus.

“Whoever, God has destined to die through the virus will die and whoever will survive will survive.

“We will buy fuel and maintain Keke.

“Some of us were given this keke on an instalment payment basis and we have to pay back weekly.

“How do we do all these in addition to feeding our family without running into loss?” he said.

Our Correspondent reports that Banks in Epe, particularly First Bank, Zenith Bank, and Polaris bank along the Ayetoro market axis were overcrowded.

Customers stormed the banking premises in their hundreds with the aim of carrying out financial transactions.

But it is sad and unfortunate that they were not maintaining the required physical and social distancing.

A resident, Alhaja Monsurat Oluwo, said that she came to the bank early this morning despite the rain to make some transactions.

“I have been unable to withdraw money for my personal needs in the past one month due to the lockdown.

“I am protecting myself and that is why I am putting on a nose mask and also maintaining distance from the crowd, ” She said.

EkoHotBlog observed during its survey that the motor parks were the same story, not complying with a government order.

Commuters were sighted in their large numbers moving various goods and services to their various destination.

However, It was discerned that most passengers were careless about using the nose mask despite the material being hawked around the parks.

While talking to our Correspondent, a passenger, Mr Waliu Olaide, said that he needs to go to work to make money to feed his family.

“I don’t have money to buy face mask and I know it is only God that can protect me from the virus, ” Olaide said.

Our correspondent also visited the Epe Maternity (PHC) at Old Ijebu-Ode Garage, where the Coronavirus testing centre is situated.

It was discovered that the testing centre has been moved to Epe local government secretariat, Ita-marun

The MOH of Epe PHC, Dr Nurein Ayeola, spoke with our correspondent and raised serious concerns about the manner with which the media reported the first index case in Epe.

He pleaded that the media should desist from such unprofessional practice of disseminating information to the public domain.

Ayeola said that there is an urgent need to create awareness for the people.

“Health matters of this nature are meant to be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.

“We should put ourselves in the shoes of that person, how are we going to feel, If people begin to point at you and your home for contracting the virus?” he asked.

 

According to the Doctor, he said that while he was driving to the office this morning, he saw a large crowd at the banks without maintaining physical distancing.

“It is said that our people are taking the virus as a joke.

“People living here needs serious orientation, awareness and enlightenment about preventive measures against the virus, ” The doctor said.

Ayeola lamented at the low turnout of people coming for the test, he attributed it to uneasy access to locate the centre in Epe.

“Now that it has been relocated to Epe local government secretariat, we hope it would be easily accessible, ” he said.

He urged Epe residents to adhere strictly to all preventive measures to contain the spread.

Ayeola also admonished residents to come out for the test due to community transmission, to know their status earlier so as to get proper care and treatment.

Idris Tele Olukoya and Kaka Babatunde.