Africa Press-Nigeria:
Africa’s largest city Lagos was deserted today after Nigeria locked down its economic hub in the continent’s latest effort to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Businesses were closed, markets abandoned and streets empty as the usually chaotic megacity of 20 million shuddered to a halt on the first full day of a two-week shutdown.
Police in protective equipment manned checkpoints, trucks carrying non-essential items were turned back and youths were spotted playing football on a usually traffic-clogged highway.
The lockdown in Nigeria – which also covers the capital Abuja – is one of Africa’s most ambitious efforts at social distancing, after 135 cases and two deaths were confirmed in the country.
” We wish to state that any increase in electricity tariff would only convey a deafening expression of insensitivity to the plight of the Nigerian people who are currently dealing with the social scare, income hemorrhage, economic squeeze and mortal dread of COVID-19.”
He noted that what was expected now was the provision of stimulus including distribution of free food and free Healthcare among others to ameliorate the sufferings of the citizenry.
According to him, ” At a time like this, other countries of the world battling the COVID-19 pandemic are expanding social welfare and putting in place economic stimulus including distribution of free foods, free healthcare services, sanitary kits, utility bills reduction, debt moratorium, and cash support just to insulate their citizens from the harsh realities of the war against the novel Coronavirus. Our own case in Nigeria cannot be different.
“If there is any time to show that peoples’ lives are all that really matters, it is now! If there is any time to show that it is people before profit, it is now. If there is any time to show that the very essence of government is the security and welfare of citizens, it is now.
“The war effort right now is how to beat the COVID-19 health insurgency and not scare-mongering already beleaguered citizens with electricity bills they cannot afford.
” Nigerian workers find tremendous succor in the altruism shared by President Muhammadu Buhari in his address on 29th March 2020 on government plans to support citizens through these tough times.
” We urge the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission not to embark on any fruitless adventure that would cast aspersion on the good intentions of Mr. President. Nigerians and indeed the global community have a real enemy to deal with and that is COVID-19.
“It would be totally unwise to make enemies out of ourselves and exacerbate the high voltage social tension that currently cascades all over the country. A word is indeed enough for the wise.”
