COVID-19: Everywhere Shut Down Operations As Nigeria Extends Lockdown
Major clubs and hotel owners in Lagos State’s Somolu and Bariga region have shut down operations as few that run low-patronage complains due to prolonged lockdown and insecurity.
Newsmen, who observed the impact of the expanded shutdown order across the Local Government District, claims that most of the clubs and hotels were shut down whilst those working, do so discreetly to prevent arrest.
Some of the hotels and clubs visited includes, Somolu Central Hotel, Obanlearo Hotel, Adecaro Guest House, Famous Hotel, Larex Hotel, Syntos Club, Osugo Club, High Society, Dee Done Club, and Legacy Hotel.
At the Famous Hotel on Bankole Street, Pedro, the manager, who identified himself as ‘Yinka’ told newsmen that the hotel had shut down its major operations due to coronavirus and government directives.
Yinka said that most people who come to lodge overnight were turned back to avoid government sanctions.
According to him, only a few hotels within the area are operating discretely.
He added that many of the hotel workers have been asked to seat at home, pending when the lockdown is over.
“Most of the hotels have shut down their activities, and some that are still operating has sent home about 90 per cent of their staff because of the huge running cost.
“The hotels that operate secretly, are offering skeletal service,’’ he said.
At Obanlearo Hotel, the operator who preferred anonymity told newsmen that the hotel has been lockdown for over two weeks now, saying “the lockdown has impacted seriously on hotel owners’’.
“I have asked all my workers to stay at home, pending when the situation normalises because if I tell them to come to the office, the business will run at a loss.’’
He said that few hotels were operating secretly, their guests are reducing by the day while some are not getting guest at all.
According to him, there are no events either, for halls to be used.
A club operator, Rex Relaxation Spot, who pleaded anonymity said the current situation has scared customers away from patronising the club.
This situation, he said, is affecting sales.
He said that the security situation in the area also affected those operating secretly.
Similarly, many private hospitals in the area are observing strict compliance to hygiene procedure as they provided water, soap and hand sanitiser at the entrance for patients to wash their hands and apply sanitiser before being allowed to enter the hospitals.
Some of the private hospitals visited includes Adesola Maternity on the Onabola Street, Ladlak Medical Centre, Igiolugbin Road, Jaiyeola Hospital on Bankole Street and Osatuyi Medical Centre in Obanikoro.
NAN observed that many of the hospitals screen their patients at the entrance.
One of the nurses at the Osatuyi Medical Centre told newsmen that fewer nurses and doctors were on duty attending to patients ailments that are not coronavirus related.
The nurse said patients with coronavirus symptoms were advised to go for a test at government hospitals.
“We occasionally assist them in calling the coronavirus helplines for assistance,’’ she said.
The nurse added that the hospital attends more to pregnant women, who come for delivery, and other patients with none coronavirus related ailment.
Meanwhile, newsmen report that a popular hotel, “De Santos Hotel”, at Akowonjo Roundabout in the Dopemu/Egbeda area was completely shut down, with a closure notice hanged on its gate to notify its customers.
“Public Notice. This is to inform our esteemed customers that we are temporarily suspending operations from March 26 until further notice.
“Please understand we are implementing this measure in line with Lagos State Government directives to stem the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus)!
“We will monitor the situation carefully and keep you up to date. Thank you. For further enquiries, please call…,’’ the notice read.
The same scenario also played out at Bellisima Hotel on Olowologbon Street in Akowonjo axis as it was closed.
Newsmen, who visited the area, reports that eateries at Egbeda and Akowonjo areas were equally closed.
The few ones that opened, spaced out their sitting arrangements to observe social distancing rule.
Also, temperature readings were taken at the entrance while customers were given hand sanitisers.
Some small beer parlours on the Egbeda/Dopemu axis were seen opened but the seats spaced apart.
Newsmen recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had, on Monday announced the extension of the lockdown order in Lagos, Ogun and FCT by another two weeks to flatten the curve of the coronavirus pandemic in the country
The killings that took place late Monday evening ignored the state government’s partial shutdown and stay-at-home order to control the spread of coronavirus disease.
One of the victims was reported to have been shot dead at his workshop along Benin Technical College (BTC) road and Medical Store road by Universal Road jun, an auto mechanic simply known as Odion.
The other victim whose identity still remains unknown was allegedly killed at Medical Store Road, by Universal junction.
It was gathered that Odion’s assailants stormed his workshop in a red-coloured Toyota Camry car, shot him and immediately zoomed off, leaving their victim dead on the spot.
The remains of one of the Auto mechanic killed along Benin Technical College (BTC) Road was said to have been deposited at an undisclosed morgue by the Okhoro Police Division.
At the time of filing this report, Edo state Police Commissioner, Lawal Jimeta, who could not confirm the killings, said he was yet to be briefed.
He, however, explained that some suspects have been arrested by the anti-cultism unit of the police command, and that investigation was ongoing.
COVID-19: Corps Members Offer Protective Items To Oyo Government
Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving in Oyo State have provided to the Oyo State Government hand sanitizers, face masks, and hand sanitizers.
At an event held on Tuesday, NYSC Coordinator in Oyo State, Mrs. Grace Ogbuogebe provided the items on behalf of the Corps members to the state government.
The items donated include, four cartons of Hand Sanitizers (500ml, 200ml, 100ml), two cartons of re-usable face masks and two cartons of liquid hand wash (500ml).
Ogbuogebe said that NYSC would stop at nothing in ensuring that every effort within its capacity is utilized to assist in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging the globe.
She asserted that since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Corps members have been challenged to compliment what the government was doing to stop the spread of the pandemic.
“Following this challenge and the directive of the Director General of the scheme Brig. Gen Shuaibu Ibrahim, NYSC Oyo Corps members ventured into the production of these protective items to compliment the effort of the state government in curbing the pandemic,” she said.
Ogbuogebe further stated that the items which were produced by the Corps members under the SAED project is 99% WHO standard.
Both places are the hardest hit by coronavirus and have been under lockdown since the end of March.
“In order to assess productivity in # COVID19 research, we set a target of testing 2000 samples per day in Lagos and 1000 samples per day in Abuja,” said Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control at AIT Newshour.
“Sometimes it’s not a lack of resources that may lead to inefficiency but the inability to connect the dots.”
Ihekweazu further stated that the lockdown was a difficult decision but a short term strategy to prevent an exponential increase in Covid19 cases.
He said the commission will use the next 2 weeks as efficiently as possible to allow the economy to restart in order to protect the health of Nigerians.
As at 09:20 pm 14th April, there are 362 confirmed cases of Covid19 reported in Nigeria. 99 have been discharged with 11 deaths.
In other to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country, The Federal Government had shutdown Lagos State, Ogun State, and the capital city Abuja.
Other Nigerian states have also announced some measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Officer of Public Affairs, Taraba State Police Command, Mr. David Misal, reported that about 100 houses were burnt down during the confrontation.
Reacting, Buhari in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu described the ethnic clash as a failure of community leadership.
The President said the disagreements between rival groups could have been sorted out through dialogue rather than violence.
“I am deeply disturbed by the resort to violence over disagreements that could be resolved through dialogue.
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the ethnic clash in Taraba State, which left about 25 people dead.
DAILY POST on Monday reported that 25 persons were killed and several others injured in a bloody clash between Shomo and Jole ethnic groups in Lau Local Government Area of the state.
Public Relations Officer, Taraba State Police Command, Mr. David Misal, confirmed that about 100 houses were burnt down during the clash.
Reacting, Buhari in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu described the ethnic clash as a failure of community leadership.
The President said the disagreements between rival groups could have been sorted out through dialogue rather than violence.
“I am deeply disturbed by the resort to violence over disagreements that could be resolved through dialogue.
“These frequent incidents of ethnic and communal violence is a failure of community leadership and the refusal to embrace dialogue as a means of conflict resolution.
“The disagreements over lands or fishing ponds shouldn’t be allowed to degenerate into violence and destruction of life and prosperity.
“Life is so precious that leaders in the area should take urgent and decisive actions to halt this disgraceful slaughter of people,” he said.
Buhari added that violence only makes situation worse and lay the seeds of future conflicts.
He sympathised with victims of the violence and their families and appealed to leaders at all levels in Taraba State “to seize the initiative in order to forestall outbreaks of deadly violence by thugs.”
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