Covid-19:More Advocacy Needed As Lagosians Defy Order

Kingsley Momoh - Lagos

The crowd of energetic youths in sporting gears that manned the ever busy Lagos road between Jumofak and Agric bus stop in Ikorodu on Monday and Tuesday gave this reporter goose bumps. The situation just by Anthony Oke bus stop on the Apapa/Oworoshonki expressway was the same. Adults and youths in the quest of keeping fit, exercising or socializing highly disregarded the social distancing ideology which has been adopted by the state and federal government as a veritable means of curbing the spread of covid-19. It is what can be described as a taboo in these days of the dreaded invisible and fast spreading corona virus.

  

From the way the young adults and some elderly adults mingled, it is obvious that many do not believe that covid-19 exists or are tired of hiding from what they cannot see or many just simply just want to undermine the reality pertaining the modus operandi of this disease.

This is coming after popular actress, Funke Akindele-Bello and her husband faced a magistrate court in ogba Lagos for violating the social distancing order by President Buhari. The case and judgment which was praised and condemned by sections of the society can be described as a means of setting the right tone into the ears of Lagosians and Nigerians to the seriousness of the efforts of the government in curbing the spread of the virus.

It seems Lagosians are oblivious of the fact that the spread in Lagos is now about persons without travel history thus, it is now on the local spread level. The curve is rising daily and it will be a terrible thing if it hits densely populated environs where it is difficult to maintain social distancing.

It seems there is a strong notion going round that the battle against corona is of the government, by the government and for the government. There seems to be a huge disregard for the fact that it can spread in our climate with many getting confused by social media posts by various persons with some stating that the virus is either untrue or is the result of a telecom technology.

However, the fact remains that corona is here and it is hitting hard in Nigeria and Lagos in particular and the curve on the graph goes higher every day.

A careful look at the kind of accommodation in most highly populated areas in Lagos shows that it will be a fatal experience if the disease leaks into the home of residents in a conventional face-me-I-face-you house where facilities like kitchen and rest rooms are commonly shared by all.

Moreover, water supply isn’t a norm in most parts of Lagos. Most of those who have access to pipe borne water get it from public supply outside their houses and sometimes if not many times, washing of hands can be a luxury.

Advocacy is still desired at this point in time to fully spread the gospel of social distancing and keeping high level of hygiene. The local government chairmen should take this responsibility by using going round their localities with public address systems to tell the people what to do or not to do in order to curb the spread of the disease and at the same time, letting them know that in a matter of time, we would win the war.

Town criers who are usually used by the Baales (Heads of hamlets) should also be implored with the right information to disseminate to the locals as another means of pushing the information closer to the people. Correct information like this can never be too much as the target is to ensure the message sent is received and properly processed and used.

Together we can win this battle.