The Federal Government of Nigeria amid growing concerns over the Coronavirus pandemic ordered on March 19, 2020 the immediate closure of tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools in the country. This was later followed by the closure of offices, shops and markets across states.
The closure in the country was said to be part of measures to contain the spread of the disease. Recall that as of Thursday, March 19, 2020, there were already twelve confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country.
Pishikeni Daniel who hails from Nasarawa state in the North Central part of the country has charged government to call off the holiday stressing that fear, idleness and hunger are more likely to kill faster than the coronavirus itself.
He spoke on his dissatisfaction over the cutdown of salaries across states by government in the quest to fight the pandemic. He added that unnecessary spendings have been made and even though there are no visible evidence, funds have been embezzled in the process of ‘containing the virus’.
When asked about his experience and take on the three weeks and one day of staying at home so far, Pishikeni said;
“Someone like me can die as a result of idleness in the name of isolating from the coronavirus. As a matter of fact, I have been sick all along. I think the best thing to be done is for government to enhance quarantine centres, call off the holiday, educate people on precautionary measures and let what will happen have its way.”
“Government has cut down people’s salaries in the name of strategizing against coronavirus. People are going through pains. People are suffering. People need to work so as to get paid full salary.”
He added that..
“There are people out there who depend on the little amounts they get from hawking to eat. Some people depend on their poorly loaded shops to survive. We don’t even wonder what the homeless go through every now and then. We’re running away from brother death to embrace mother death.”
In closing, he advised that people must keep praying for their loved ones, leaders, nation and the world at large while they look forward to better days.
