Kunle Adelabu
There is no doubt that residents of Ikorodu have started defying government directive concerning the lockdown order in the state as a measure to contain the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic disease.
The reason adduced to this flagrant disobedience was the economic hardship which the stay at home order has inflicted on the generality of the people.
Many residents have complained of starvation since the lockdown order took effect last Tuesday as they protested that the restriction has prevented them from going out to eke a living for themselves and their families.
THE IMPACT went out on Tuesday, which is the day 8 of the 14-day lockdown, to monitor compliance and many residents were seen on the streets in many parts of the Ikorodu community.
Vehicular movements have also returned to the roads as many people were able to find their way to their various places of work despite the presence of security personnel at some strategic positions.
Economic activities are also gradually returning to some areas, especially Ikorodu garage where many residents were seen moving around and engaging in trading activities.
Among the areas that have witnessed gradual economic resurgence in the community are Owode to Ota Ona, Awolowo road, Oriwu road, Ita Elewa, Ejina, Obun Ale, Alhaji Street, Igbogbo, Ipakodo and Ikorodu garage.
Some residents, while responding to question from the THE IMPACT at the Ikorodu garage roundabout on why they are not staying indoor in compliance with the government directive issued to check the spread of the deadly disease, pointed to hunger and the failure of the government to provide adequate relief materials to ease the sufferings inflicted on them by the lockdown.
Mr Abiodun, a resident of Ikorodu, while rating compliance level in the town at 80%, charged government to provide more support, in terms of food items, for residents in order to make them comply fully with the stay at home order.
“I will give the compliance level in Ikorodu 80% because of our poverty level and economic situation. Someone like me have to come out because of the nature of my business. I have to move around. From what I have seen and noticed while going around the community, I will give the compliance level 80%”, he said.
”The lockdown could have been more effective but for the level of poverty and illiteracy in the country. These are the reasons that forced people out of their homes in disobedience to the government’s directive.
“I will suggest that the state government should deliver more deliverable materials to the people. I must tell you the truth, the materials have not really gotten down to most of those that are seriously in need of them.
“Nothing has been given to all these old people and other needy. Government needs to do more to make people stay indoor.
Another resident, Mr Alex Olawale, supported the government’s action to lockdown the state but,however, opined that government should provide relief materials for the residents.
“The government is absolutely right concerning the lockdown order in a to prevent more people from contacting the Coronavirus. The lockdown is the only way to prevent the gathering of people but seeing people in Ikorodu engaging in trading activities and moving about on the ground that the government did not provide support for them. That’s why the government must make provision for relief packages to make people stay at home.
“We are all expecting the government to make provisions for us. Like l said earlier, the government is right to issue the lockdown directive but they need to make provision for the welfare of the people during this period.
Azeez Balogun, who also spoke with THE IMPACT at the Ikorodu garage roundabout said:
“People are not complying because of the state of the economy which has been in a very poor state even before the emergence of the Coronavirus. There is so much poverty, lack of food and employment, yet you are asking people to stay at home.
“As we all know, people must work for them to be able to make ends meet and locking them in door would not give them what to eat. This, in my own view, is the reason people are not complying with stay at home order because they must survive.
“Government should be able to supply people food for the period they are asking them to stay at home. Since you have denied them their means of livelihood and forced them to stay indoor, you must provide for them”.
