In Lagos State, mixed reactions have trailed the extension of the lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the state and the country at large.

Yesterday in his second nationwide broadcast on Covid-19, President Muhammadu Buhari had extended the lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and the FCT by another 14 days, beginning from tonight.

When Radio Nigeria went to town to sample people opinions about the extension of the lockdown order, it was observed that the extension did not really come as a surprise to many residents of the state due to broad speculations about it, prior to the announcement by President Buhari.

While some residents are not too happy with the extra measure, others described it as a welcome development which would further ensure that Covid-19 is completely eradicated.

Some of those who spoke with Radio Nigeria however lamented over the shortfall in social amenities and interventions which they said has been making the lockdown unbearable, especially their inability to benefit from the palliatives sent out by the two tiers of government.

“The timing only favored salary earners and government workers, what of those who are not in these categories, what should they do?  “I just gave birth, there’s no money, they are sharing food, but they did not give us in Bariga here we did not see anything, they are just suffering us”  “I am selling fruits and the little gain I make, I use to feed myself and my child” “Because of the virus, to feed and to live is now very difficult for poor people” the respondents lamented’.

However, some respondents are of the opinion that the extension of the lockdown order was necessary to truly curb the spread of the virus, but some of them also identified factors making it seemingly difficult for the measure to be one hundred percent effective.

They said: “governments have been doing quite well to be honest, they just need to improve to be better” “I think Lagos state government had done well already” “This is a typical example of why social distancing cannot be observed in this community, there’s no light, some of them are ignorant of what is going on and moreover, because there’s nothing for them to put in their stomachs, some of them may go begging and borrowing”  

While commending President Buhari for directing that an additional one million households should be added to the 2.6 already on the social intervention palliatives, the respondents are of the opinion that the food and stipends for a category of citizens should be quickly distributed to make it easier for them to cope for the next 14 days. 

Omolara Omosanya