4 Ways Nigerians Are Risking Their Lives Amidst COVID’19
The COVID’19 pandemic has changed the world in ways we never imagined. It has affected our work, hobbies, outings, relationships, economy and every part of our existence. Four months down the line, we are all adapting and trying to live with the virus admist us adhering to simple rules to protect us from the virus.
It will however interest you that some Nigerians are still risking their lives and health because of certain behaviours they exhibit even during this pandemic. Below are some things Nigerians are doing at the risk of their life and their health:
Breaching interstate travel ban
After several warnings by both state and federal government, it will amaze you that people are still breaching interstate travel ban.
Public transport still move from state to state across the country carrying passengers at expensive prices. The law enforcement agencies are also not helping, people who are supposed to enforce the law are at different checkpoints collecting token to let passengers breach the ban. The implication of this are numerous, apart from the risk of being infected and also infecting other people, the highways are not safe. Few people are travelling at this period and anyone travelling can easily be a victim of kidnapping, armed robbery and all after vices along the highways.
Use of wrong facemasks
The fashion sense of Nigerians have somehow clouded their sense of judgement when it comes to the use of facemasks.
All in the name of fashion, you see people using different types of clothing to sew facemasks because they want it to match with their clothes. In a bid to achieve this, you see ridiculous types of facemasks that are not useful against the virus and will easily give way to being infected of they come in contact with an infected person. It is advised to check and use approved facemasks by medical agencies.
Failure to use hand sanitizers and hand-washing soap
Suddenly, maybe the vibes isn’t there anymore. Unlike the wake of the virus, almost every individual in the country has a personal hand sanitizer.
The culture of washing hands was practices religiously. But recently, that culture is dying because we all now feel it’s a normal thing. May I remind you that Nigeria as a country has recorded over 8000 cases of the virus and close to 500 deaths. Like the saying goes, “it is better to be safe than to be sorry”. Kindly imbibe the use of hand sanitizers especially has the lockdown has been relaxed in certain states. The social distancing thing is not working as it should anymore as we all now take public transport together, the best you can do for yourself is to make sure you do everything possible to avoid getting infected.
Breaching ban on religious gathering
The writer is a first hand witness to this case. The picture below shows the gathering of over 50 people on a Sunday in my compound for a church service as they could not use the church premises.
While I respect the need to gather together in the presence of God, I don’t think it’s worth risking the life of everyone involved. Even God says that he’s everywhere and if as believers we do believe this, then we should come to terms with the situation in ground and hold off religious gatherings or reduce it to the numbers suggested by medical agencies and observe social distancing rules. The power of prayers can’t be overestimated of course, but the Bible says where one or two are gathered, the presence of the Lord is ascertained. Kindly pray with your family at home.
This of course serves as a reminder to all. It is important to admit theta these are difficult times and abiding by these rules seems hard but for the safety of our lives, nothing is too much.
Kindly share to your loved ones.
