Yesterday, Monday, I went from Oworo to Ikorodu (I had not left the environ of Oworo or Bariga since the lockdown). My parents had not seen me for a month, so yea, you could tell it was more than necessary for me to go. Especially since they sent transport fare for me to come home, I had no excuse😂
I left Oworo to Ikorodu at few minutes past 6 p.m (if you know me, you know I'm a nightwalker☺️). I was all prepared (well, in my own mind). White polo, black short, white Dunlop slippers and nose mask. I looked like an Oyo State Sub-Zero😂 (no offence to my Oyo people). I was quite frantic and exceedingly careful. I walked very fast, gave people distance, didn't touch my face, didn't touch any surface (I literally put my hand in my lap all through).
But it looked like I was the only one worried about the virus. The first vehicle I entered to Ketu, I was the only one with a nose mask. The man even tried, only carried two people at the back seat of his car.
Immediately I got to Ketu, it was something else entirely. There was a crowd. Buses were packed full. Nose mask? It is for the weak. Danfo carried 4 per row (still the normal thing).
I entered a Tata bus (it is those white long buses that took over from the legendary Molue in Lagos). Still wearing my nose mask, I sat gingerly at a window seat and turned my face towards the window.
Gradually, people started entering. They were all cautious of each other, giving space…till one of the conductors (yes, Tata bus is the only one with about 7 conductors) came in and shouted that it was three people at the left row and two people at the right row. In his words translated to English from Yoruba, “I will not make any loss today.” People didn't want to move still, but who were they?
He loaded the bus filled to the seating capacity and carried standing passengers as an extra. In a bus of over 60 people, only three other people and I wore a nose mask. Others? No! They had the blood of Zechariah covering them. The man sitting beside me even chose to caress the headrest of the seat at his front. And the one at his front, after touching the seat, used the same hand to eat a combo of bread and hot Akara. In my head, all I could scream was CORONA!
Other places had similar experiences. With all of these things, it's a wonder we are still having less than 200 cases daily. People no longer wash their hands or take any safety precautions. Even with the lockdown back then, people could still move around within the state and even out of the state. When the lockdown ended but interstate travelling ban remained, people still travel from state to states. Parties still hold. Religions worship centres still hold their services and prayers.
Yet, the USA, Italy, France, and other developed countries with stricter movements ban have people dying by the hundreds and thousands daily. So who are we deceiving?
It's either:
Nigeria doesn't have the coronavirus and the government sold us on a hoax.
Or
The Nigerian government is underreporting or undertesting.
Which do you think it is?
Meanwhile, why haven't you told your friends about this newsletter?
Feel free to send me a mail on your views, and what you would like to see me talk about.
Enjoy your day, be safe out there and please, I beg you, observe all necessary precautions still.
Osheyyy! Clear road for ze king! I am now an official member.🤗
I think the Nigerian government are under testing as well as underreporting!