As the reality of COVID19 resonates in Nigeria, a complete lockdown of the country is looming. Few days back, the wife of the president called for a total lockdown of the country due to the outbreak. In Lagos State, strict measures, including complete lockdown of markets and other social spaces, have been adopted to contain the pandemic.
In fact, the country is reportedly moving towards a complete lockdown because of the confirmation of more cases. The Federal Government’s directive that public servants should work from home also suggests the possibility of a lockdown. Just this morning, the contents of a leaked memo from the Nigerian Army are suggestive of a complete lockdown of the country maybe just a few days away.
Globally, lockdowns are considered as effective measures against pandemics. The UK, US, EU and many other countries are currently in some degree of lockdown. Yesterday, the Prime Minister of India announced a 21-day lockdown. From a compilation by Eyewitness News, about 20 countries were on coronavirus lockdown as at 24th March 2020.
As the country braces for a full lockdown, a critical look at the systems and structures that may contribute to the effectiveness of lockdown is necessary. Already, there are indications that Nigeria’s health infrastructure may be inadequate to combat a pandemic of this magnitude. Also, the country’s weak financial framework may limit the practicability of social distancing and self-isolation. However, it important that provisions are made to satisfy citizen’s basic needs ahead of total lockdown.
Food, water, and shelter are some of the most basic needs of humans. In the modern world where life is driven by technology, power is also considered as a basic human requirement. Without being unduly pessimistic, Nigeria has not fared well in the provision of these necessities in the last couple of years. In fact, about 2.1 million Nigerians were threatened by food insecurity in 2018. Similarly, only 19% of Nigeria’s population has access to safe drinking water. Only 67% of the population had a basic supply of water as of 2017. A deficit of 17 million housing units also rocks the country’s housing sector. Unreliable electricity in Nigeria is so much of a challenge that it costs the country about $29 billion annually.
Moreso, the realities are not suggestive of a positive outlook during a lockdown. For instance, it is believed that when people stay back at home, they may consume more food, have more need of water for domestic purposes, and require more electricity supply to stay in touch with the rest of the world. However, the reality may not make even a basic supply of this necessity possible at such a time.
The lockdown may also frustrate the regular alternatives Nigerians have used to attend to their basic needs. With a full lockdown, citizens may be unable to access filling stations thus denying them alternative power sources to meet their food and water requirement. Already, a possible petrol scarcity has been hinted on in Rivers State due to NUPENG’s recent directive.
While the lockdown appears inevitable, citizens would require assurances about their welfare during the period of the standstill. Specifically, efforts should be made to guarantee that the basic needs of Nigerians across the country are adequately provided for during the lockdown.
Obviously, the coronavirus pandemic has continued to show the inadequacy of many of the country’s infrastructure and processes. In view of this, the Nigerian governments must be deliberate about improving its infrastructure when the war against COVID 19 has been won. Nevertheless, smart policy responses remain paramount and urgent.