On lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, I strongly believe it's a wild goose chase.
By: Adedayo Aderibigbe
Tags: Covid 19, Coronavirus Covid19, Covid19 Crisis, Coronavirus, Co Vid

On lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, I strongly believe it's a wild goose chase. It’s very hard to enforce or even sustain. Almost impossible to enforce or sustain in Nigeria. Corruption has eaten deep into our law enforcement that’d make enforcement hard, and make enforcement a tool that’d be easily exploited by officers to trample on the rights of the average Nigerian.

To sustain a lockdown, mere ‘stay at home’ is very inconsiderate of the average Nigerian, considering the sustenance of the less privileged and the security of the trying class (supposedly middle class). Remember #OccupyNigeria in 2012, which was calmed just about when matters were about to escalate.

So, I think trying to come up with ways to live safely until we overcome COVID-19 is our best option, just like even countries with impressive social welfare are doing. I have some ideas if the country is actually serious about this. It's hard too, but definitely more worthy than lockdown.

Firstly, sanctions for violation must be well planned to deter violation.

-We need to come up with ways to force violators into quarantine, with all their rights intact, except LIBERTY. Liberty should only be for those that have sense.

-Violators include anyone found corrupting the rules. All violations must be well proven with clear evidence(s) and properly tried at a special court.

-employ proper whistle-blower policies that's transparent, but with the privacy of the whistle-blowers protected.

Secondly, for businesses to continue operations:

-only open to customers in a well ventilated environment. In fact, mostly in the open (YES! Even banks, since we're discouraging against the use of cash).

-employ trasparent ways (like a proper tally management system) to mandate customers to book appointment ahead of their visit to the business premises. Their visit must be short, like only to authenticate a request, pickup/drop item(s), etc. The tally system should auto assign time slot to customers to visit the premises.

-employ standard means to mandate customers to initiate requests/complaints online and only come for swift authentication at the business premises (if need be).

-we all know by now that we don't need all our staffers to be physically present in the business premises (non customer facing), while some don't have to stay long if they have to be physically present (logistics, monitoring, etc).

Vehicles should try as much as possible to be well ventilated (windows down), especially public transport vehicles where physical distancing should also be well mandated.

Overall, we should ensure physical distancing, face mask wearing when stepping out of one's home and proper hygiene to curb the spread, as advised by NCDC.

Don't forget to put scientists and people in front lines (health, food security, and defense) in your prayers. Yes! Prayer works, especially for hope. Vaccine/cure will eventually come. So, we need to remain positive.

I know there'll still be stupid people (violators) that wouldn't be caught, and they'd take some innocent people along with them, but do your own best to curb the spread of COVID-19.

These ideas aren't absolute. Deductions, modifications and additions could be made on them to meet the goal of living safely until vaccine/cure is found for COVID-19.

Thank you and #StaySafe ✌🏾