The analogy in our African folklore about Mr Tortoise, who spent six days in the belly of an elephant, but grumbled about suffocation on hearing of rescue plans on the seventh day, can only be likened to the traffic gridlock, stampede and impatience of Nigerians in different parts of the country at the moment, as a result of the relaxation of the lockdown imposed on Ogun, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by President Muhammadu Buhari.
From all indications, many people appear to be "breathing again", after President Muhammadu Buhari imposed the lockdown on the aforementioned states in a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, March 30, which he extended by two weeks on April 13 and for another one week, with the cumulative five weeks of lockdown elapsing on Monday, May 4.
Like Mr Tortoise in the African folklore, Nigerians tolerated the lockdown, but couldn't wait to get back to their different businesses, even if it means contracting the same coronavirus infection that necessitated the five-week lockdown by the federal government.
In different parts of the country, especially the FCT, it is common sight to see impatient motorists honking at other drivers in traffic, passengers struggling to board few vehicles and even customers besieging banks, supermarkets and business premises for transactions.
Worse still, the fear of the coronavirus pandemic appears to have been relegated to the background as people are presently more concerned about feeding, having allegedly been denied palliatives by government during the lockdown period.
Interestingly, almost every corner of Abuja and different parts of the country has hawkers of different types of face masks running after vehicle drivers, passengers and pedestrians for possible patronage, especially with the relaxation of the lockdown, which has provided more potential customers than available during the lockdown.
Nevertheless, for government and citizens alike, the relaxation of the lockdown has many implications, starting with the risk of further spread of the coronavirus pandemic and many Nigerians bearing the brunt of evident economic hardship and healthcare workers being overwhelmed.
Less pressure on govt
During the lockdown, almost everyone depended on government for palliatives, on the excuse that they couldn't access their business places nor have means of earning a livelihood.
However, with the ease in lockdown, the pressure will lessen, due to the fact that different classes of people can now go to work and earn a living, though with limited timeframe.
Counting of losses
For many business owners, it will take a long time for them to get their businesses back on track by restrategising.
At the moment, those permitted to resume businesses are counting they loses, not to talk of those selling perishables, who didn't prepare for the lockdown in the first place.
As a result, there is looming job losses as companies would naturally try to cut down costs by laying off staffers. A case in point is the hue and cry that greeted the revelation that Access bank aimed to lay off some staffers immediately after the relaxation of the lockdown, though the Central Bank of Nigeria has since intervened.
Nevertheless, many workers, especially those in the private sector, are living in perpetual and palpable fear that, with the relaxation of the lockdown, it would only be a matter of time before they start receiving sack letters, regardless of the assurance by President Muhammadu Buhari that no worker would be sacked "without due process".
Traffic gridlock/ stampede
Evidently, the resumption of businesses, following the relaxation of the lockdown, has naturally led to stampede, traffic gridlock and impatience of motorists in different parts of the country.
Several media reports have it that Lagosians, FCT residents and residents of major cities picked up from exactly where they left off before the lockdown and have resumed the usual bustle and hustle known to the city dwellers, though with cautious use of face masks by drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike.
In Lagos, traffic snarl, stranded commuters at major roads and bus stops were a common sight. Motorists along the Oshodi Apapa expressway were held in traffic for several hours, especially between Iyana-Isolo and Toyota bus stops, where construction work was ongoing. There was also a gridlock on the Third Mainland Bridge.
Despite the early morning rains, residents trooped out at various bus stops scrambling for seats and tickets in disregard of distancing guidelines. While some of them wore facemasks, many others had none on as they clung onto each other.
The crowd at Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) stations was as a result of the reduction in the number of passengers on a bus.
Commercial buses also seized the opportunity to triple their fares, forcing a lot of people who could not afford the new prices to trek.
Naturally, following the social distancing rule, commercial drivers now charge double fare for trips, since they are expected to carry less than 60 per cent capacity of their vehicles.
Vehicles that hitherto transported five passengers, now accept three people, leading to stampede and struggle for "lucky" passengers to get to their destinations quickly.
On the other hand, security agents would also be ruing their losses as many of them were alleged to have used the period of the lockdown to extort money from motorists trying to travel without pass and had to bribe their ways to different locations, though security agents would now focus more on inter-state travels as workers are expected to move freely in major cities, unlike during the period of the lockdown.
Stampede in banks too
Also, bank customers have lamented the skeletal services provided by commercial banks, which necessitated the limit of branches opened for businesses by banks.
As a result of the number of banks opening for businesses, customers stampede and rush to make use of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), access the banking hall or to perform different types of services, thereby betraying the social distancing rule and making the intention of government to be counterproductive.
From media reports, residents flooded banking halls on Monday and it was a rowdy session at different banks in the FCT and other parts of the country as tens of customers threw caution to the wind.
Although most of them wore facemasks as shown in viral videos on the internet, the customers had obvious body contacts as they forced their ways into the banking hall. At most ATMs and bank branches, crowds gathered outside and in canopies waiting for their turn to enter the hall; long queues were a regular sight at ATMs.
Customers in Awka, Anambra state, had a hectic time in their bid to get into the various banking halls. There were long queues and clusters of customers within the bank premises waiting to enter the banking halls. There were also long queues in some of the banks visited by reporters, while security personnel had a hectic time controlling the customers who besieged the ATMs.
Less online transactions
Many people focused on the internet to place orders for items they couldn't get in physical stores, especially consumables.
However, with the relaxation of the lockdown, many people would now like to walk into physical stores to make purchases, with varying choices, instead of spending money on delivering costs for internet services.
Similarly, the relaxation of the lockdown has naturally taken more people away from the internet and social media, as many people spent time on the internet to cure boredom, but would now have to pay more attention to their works and "double their hustle" in order to avoid being sacked by employers looking for excuses to downsize staff strength.
We're prosecuting violators- VIO
In a chat with Paulokahblog, the PRO of the FCTA Directorate of Road Transport Services (DRTS) otherwise known as VIO, Mr Kalu Emetu, said that the FCTA is strictly monitoring the movement of motorists within and out of the FCT, with an eye at preventing traffic gridlock and ensuring social distancing by passengers, even as he said those who failed to use face masks are being arrested and prosecuted.
He said: "All commanders were directed to immediately return to their respective commands and continue the enforcement of the lockdown, social distancing, unroadworthy vehicles and use of facemasks. Please, note the lockdown is only partially lifted for level 14 and above to come to work and some essential workers mentioned in Mr President's speech and FCTA guidelines.
"We were, therefore, directed to intensify enforcement accordingly and mount our points to restrict movement, as directed by the management of DRTS, during the commencement of the easing off of the lockdown. We are strategising for the new directive. We are enforcing the use of face masks, social or physical distancing and checking unroadworthy vehicles in the city centre. On Tuesday this week, 11 people were prosecuted at Apo mobile court, where they were all given fine for not wearing face masks, while six were also prosecuted at the court sitting at Dantata and also fined for the same offence.
"We are not relenting. It had been our mandate. It is only for us to replan to ensure free flow of traffic in every part of the FCT. Remember, this is not total end of the lockdown. It is segmented, which still gives us much responsibility, as if the whole operation is still on going. We will also be looking at the level of compliance on physical distancing, while inside vehicles and movement in and outside FCT."
Increased infections
Evidently, the concern of many Nigerians, especially healthcare workers, is that the relaxation of the lockdown will lead to widespread of the pandemic, especially as Nigerians are known to disregard directives without consequences.
Speaking on Monday during the daily briefing of the Presidential Taskforce (PTF), Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that there is likelihood of Covid-19 infections increasing, but urged Nigerians to demonstrate a high level of responsibility to mitigate the spread of the virus.
He said, although COVID-19 patients have a high survival rate, many people could get sick at the same time to the extent that the entire health sector could be crippled.
He said; “As we begin a new week and the prospects of gradual easing of the lockdown, I wish to start by reminding citizens that this phase comes with the added responsibility to be extra vigilant and compliant with the accompanying measures and guidelines that are meant to ensure that we do not lose the health gains we have made so far, while cautiously opening options for citizens to rebuild their livelihoods.
“Since our COVID-19 statistics are of considerable concern, attention has also been drawn to the observation that countries who eased or lifted restrictions, suffered an increase in new cases. Although our projection already features increasing number of cases, even with the lockdown, I believe that redoubling our efforts to adhere to government directives, can keep figures within control range of the COVID-19”.
SGF laments
Also speaking on Monday, Chairman of the PTF on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, lamented the compliance level with the PTF’s guidelines.
He said; “The PTF has been monitoring the level of compliance with some of the measures and early observations showed lack of compliance with social distancing and wearing of masks. We note particularly the chaotic scenes around the banks and other financial institutions. We must reiterate that the danger of infection is not over and that individual actions will contribute to the success or failure of our measures.
”We urge citizens to minimize the risk of getting infected, while trying to transact in the banks. We similarly urge the banks to ensure that their ATMs and online banking systems are in good order and stocked regularly to avoid convergence of customers in their premises.
“The PTF fully understands the desire of Nigerians to come out to continue their lives after five weeks of lockdown. State governments and security agencies have, however, been advised to enforce the measures rigidly and violators will be prosecuted.
“Let me remind you, once more, that this easing up is in phases and those who are permitted to open have clearly been defined. Our admonition to Nigerians is that it is still desirable to stay at home if there is no compelling reason to go out and to comply with the measures always, whether at home or not."
We may impose another lockdown- FG
Following its decision to ease the five-week lockdown, the federal government has said it might be forced to proclaim another round of lockdown across the country, saying most Nigerians who went out for their businesses on Monday violated its containment protocols against the spread of the COVID-19.
According to the federal government, more Covid-19 infections are expected to be recorded across the country due to such violations and lamented the low level of public compliance
with its containment protocols.
Speaking on Monday, during the daily briefing of the Presidential Taskforce, the visibly concerned Director General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Iheakwazu, berated banks for opening fewer branches, an action he said would definitely fuel the spike in infection rate.
He said, with the manner in which many Nigerians violated government’s safety measures, authorities could be forced to impose another lockdown.
He said: “Today (Monday), some of the measures are being eased. The initial reports are not too pleasing across the country. This is to appeal to everyone across the country to take responsibility. When we say take responsibility, yes, we are addressing the individuals, but we really need to address corporate Nigeria. One of the biggest groups that were allowed to start business today were banks, but many banks have limited the number of branches they opened.
“Yes, there is a benefit of doubt, but when you limit the number of branches that open, everybody goes to the one branch that is opened and that becomes counter-productive. There is only so much we can do. We can produce all the guidelines and do all the preaching, but if organisations are not going to come up and support the implementation of these measures and help us manage the risks and focus on a risk-based approach, then all our efforts would amount to nothing."
Continuing, he said: “We will have infections because of what happened today. No doubt about that, but how can we learn from mistakes of today into tomorrow, next tomorrow so that by Friday, hopefully, we would have normalised some of these things? Yes, we knew today would be a problem. Everybody here knew today would be a problem because, for the first time, people were let out of their homes.
“But now that they are out and now that we have seen the sunlight again, the challenge for us, as a society, is how do we now organise ourselves to mitigate this risk, to limit transmission from one another? Yes, we might have a few extra infections today and tomorrow, but what we do not want is an explosion of new infections."
He added: “If we do have that explosion, there would be almost no choice left for the leadership of the country than to ask all of us to go back into our homes. So, for the benefit of having a few hours a day of coming out to reopen parts of the economy, there is a price to pay and that price is that we organise ourselves to do this safely.
"We are focusing a lot of energy on Kano not because Lagos is no longer important. In fact Lagos still has the highest number of cases and they need all the necessary support and we will continue to give them all the support. We have an emerging issue in Kano and therefore some of our thinking resources now have to be focused on Kano."
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