Kunle Adelabu & Wale Jagun
In view of the growing cases of victims of Coronavirus and fear of further spread, residents of Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, have called on the Lagos State Government to ensure that restriction on gathering of people in public places are strictly enforced.
They also called on the local council authorities in the division to ensure that the directive of the state government on public places are enforced.
These were some of the resolutions of participants on THE IMPACT WhatsApp platform during a discourse on the situation at BRT Terminals in Ikorodu which are overcrowded with passengers who were struggling to board few available buses in the early hours of Monday (today) in a bid to get to their respective places of work.
Many of the clubs, restaurants and fun spots also defied the government’s directive over the weekend by opening for business.
Also today, our reporters witnessed chaotic scenario at the BRT terminals at Ikorodu roundabout, Agric and Majidun, where hundreds of residents struggled with one another to board the few available buses to their respective places of work despite restriction placed on gathering at public palaces to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus. .
The queue at the terminals and the sitting arrangements inside the BRT buses do not in any way reflect the social distancing directive by the government.
At the Ikorodu Ferry terminal located at Ipakodo, Ikorodu, THE IMPACT gathered that the traffic (number of passengers) has reduced mainly due to the government’s directive shutting down schools and asking civil servants from level 1 to 12 to work from home.
It was also gathered that the management of the ferry ensure social distance in the sitting arrangement of passengers waiting to board while sanitizer is applied on the passengers when they are about to board ferry.
Speaking with the manager of the ferry terminal, Mr Zack Zakari Dezina, he stated that:
“Our small boats are loading 20 passengers while the big ferry is loading 56 passengers.
“We enjoin our passengers on arriving our premises to wash their hands and after issuing them with jackets, we usually apply sanitizer on them.
“We contemplated shutting down but we were advised against it, but we have been doing everything possible to sensitise our passengers and make necessary tools available for our staff dealing with them”, he told THE IMPACT.
He told our reporter that the traffic which is over 4000 passengers has dropped to 1000 plus due to the Coronavirus and government’s action.
Meanwhile, when our reporter revisited the BRT terminal in the afternoon after the early morning rush, the manager, Mr Gbenga Adedeji, told our reporter that they are now carrying between 42 and 50 passengers instead of the usual 70 they used to carry before the Coronavirus outbreak.
He also added that it is very difficult to maintain social distance among the passengers on queue as they are always rushing to board at once.
On whether the company is planning to shut down or scale down its operation due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, he said:
“Only the government can do that and our management is in better position to talk about. Right now, we have adhered to the directive that we should reduce our passengers from 70 to 42 or 50 .
“By tomorrow (Tuesday), we are going to be carrying 40 passengers strictly”, he added.
Meanwhile, it was business as usual at Sabo, Allison, Laketu and Ipakodo markets when our reporter visited today. These markets were filled with people as usual.
Some of the traders that spoke with our reporter stated that they have not breached any law or directive in engaging in market activities as no such law or directive existed.
Others stated that people need to eat and transact business no matter the epidemic.
Residents’ Reactions To Lack Of Enforcement Regarding the Government’s directive on Coronavirus In Ikorodu
Mr Ohi Obadan, responding to the issue of crowd of passengers at the Ikorodu garage BRT terminal today (yesterday) despite the state government’s directive for social distance to curb the spread of the deadly disease, stated that if government can enforce the restriction on the religion bodies, it should not be difficult to enforce such on public places.
“Where is the Task Force that goes about closing religious houses and businesses and exhibiting it on social media? Where is the enforcement of orderliness as released by the Ministry of Transportation? Let us call a spade a spade. Government has been reactionary instead of being proactive.
“I agree that we should exercise self-control and be disciplined, however, enforcement is the last resort…”.
Also commenting, Mr Bola Isikalu, a young entrepreneur, also called for enforcement.
“Enforcement of law and order is key in any sane society. The military are being engaged in Italy and Germany in the combat against Covid 19”.
Adelabu Seyi, a co-administrator of THE IMPACT platform, was also of the opinion that the taskforce team is not doing enough concerning the enforcement of restriction on public places.
“We left the most vulnerable parts of the city unattended to and chasing shadows in other places.
“I was expecting our task forces to use the same energy deployed yesterday religious houses to BRT bus stations, public and private sector offices, major markets, malls and other crowded areas”, he stated.
“Did you see the BRT stations at Ikorodu garage, Agric and Majidun this morning? And I know that’s the situation all over Lagos. Seriously, we are not ready as a people and as a nation. Until we take difficult but drastic decisions which the government must be ready to pay for, the spread of the virus may continue to increase in figures without control.
“We left it too late, sir. Our airports should have been closed like 4 weeks ago. But now, governments at all levels should take the bull by the horn and shut down places, offices and they should be ready to bear the cost and work out modalities to engage stores and supermarkets within every vicinity where people can get foods, essentials and other basic supplies at subsidized rate with thorough monitoring of compliance”, he stated.
Hameed Ganiu, a youth leader in the division, also commenting stated that, “Since some people are still going out and moving around, let government put proper measures in place and provide all what is needed to curb the spread of this deadly virus”.
Others that contributed called on the local government authorities in the six councils in the division to ensure that they are alive to their responsibilities by enforcing the government’s directive in their respective localities.
They also asked the councils to provide sanitizer in various public places, council secretariats while also suggesting that they should take the bull by the horn by shutting down their operations and ask workers to stay at home for a while.
Enforcement By Council Administrators In Ikorodu Division
So far, the only council that has been enable to enforce the state government’s directive is Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) under the chairmanship of Builder Sesan Daini, while Ikorodu Local Government, Ikorodu North LCDA and Ikorodu West LCDA have also embarked on sensitization drive to educate the people on the disease through the social media platforms.
We also gathered that the Hon. Adeola Banjo, the Chairman of the Ikorodu North LCDA has also mobilized the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and Civil Defense personnel within the council to ensure that state government’s directive regarding restriction is enforced.
At the weekend, the taskforce of CONVID – 19 set-up by the Igbogb/Bayeku LCDA closed down some bars found breaching the state government’s directive towards preventing the spread of the Coronavirus.
Among the affected bars were Cluster Bar, Opposite Igbogbo cemetery, Haveluck Bar, Igbogbo, Maimi Bar, Igbe, BeeJay’s Bar along Bayeku Road and Dre Lounge, Igbe.
The taskforce, which is headed by the Executive Chairman of the council, also has the Vice Chairman, Hon. Titilola Adegboyega, the Secretary to the Local Council, Barr. Ade Ayeni, the Chief Security Officer, Mr. Dare Igbasan, the HOD of Environment Department of the Council and some men of the Nigerian Police Force from Igbogbo Police Barrack and Ipakodo Police Station as members.
According to the statement issued by the council chairman, Builder Sesan Daini, the taskforce is to enforce the new directive restricting and limiting all religious and social gatherings to maximum of 50 people in attendance.
The statement further added that: “There case (closed bars) will be treated further according to the law of the state.
“The Taskforce has reiterated its commitment to continue to enforce compliance and urged residents to adhere strictly to the new directive in the best interest of everyone as more cases of the Corona virus are being confirmed across the country”, the statement added.
