On the 27th day of February 2020, the first case of COVID-19 was announced by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) following indepth tests and analyses. However, this month (April) makes it approximately three months that we have been suffering from coronavirus with over 4000 cases including discharged and death occurrences disclosed by NCDC.
Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Mohammed Buhari had adopted different strategies and numerous efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19 but, all seems ineffective. Thus, widespread of the contagious virus have created a worrisome effect in the minds of the citizens with many pondered with question like; “when this virus go commot?” meaning, when is this virus going to leave. Staring at our incapability to produce a vaccine, a question came to my mind; what is our hope?
Our hearts are pierced with pains and afflicted with sadness concerning COVID-19 as cases confirmed by NCDC is beyond our imagination and expectation since the ‘stay at home’ order is duly observed among the citizenry despite the fact some individuals are faced with hunger.
The virus have rendered families hungry, afflicted beggars with tears, those who survived by daily income helpless, market sellers indebted, and most business sectors useless as most individuals have taken responsibility to respect the government directives.
Subsequently, great Nigeria Students have been sitting at home lost with no or little vision of when they’re resuming this year.Different questions have been in the minds of these learners viz; Are we going to graduate this year? Are we going to write WAEC and SSCE this year? Are we going to enter another level this year?
Meanwhile, e-learning ordered by the Government sounds ludicrous as most of the parents are petty traders, technician, civil servants whom are incarcerated at home and highly affected by the pandemic without money to fend for themselves let a lone affording money to subscribe data for their kids in order to access the e-learning programmes.
More also, the Almajiris are not left out in the tale; they are reportedly ignored by the government, experiencing hardship and contacting the virus due to hunger.
O Lord /Allah save us from COVID-19” has turned to regular prayer point by most churches and mosques indicating only our creator can save us in this country.
In summary, our incompetency to produce vaccine and limit the spread have landed us into different sphere of failures; clampdown in our economy, lack of medical facilities, depicting the fact we have noisy governments with no possible solution to the current situation we find ourselves. When the leaders can’t lead themselves and provide solution to problems, what is the hope of the mass? This is a rhetoric that calls for our sincere answers on the part of the citizenry.
– Omopariola Nehemiah wrote from Lokoja, Kogi State.
