Tsado Mohammed
As expected, the Niger State Government has officially announced the easing of lockdown brought about by the emergence and spread of Covid 19 across the Country.
The measures came as a relief and worry to some extent. It therefore begs the answer, on whose behalf are the measures or any Government policy made in the first place.
Every policy, decision or Health guideline must as a matter of fact take into account the everyday existential reality of the people. By pronouncing Okada popularly known as Kabukabu as “outlawed” in Minna without any realistic alternative means of transportation is simply putting the general population, Okada riders and the security agencies on a coalition coarse.
The Covid 19 committee has not shown if there is any relationship between the activities of the hardworking Okada men with the spread of the virus in the state. So why ban them at this point in time.
This is perhaps the worst period to even consider this sort of decision. The nearest alternative is Keke Napep and as we all know, with the terrible situation of roads network across even the state capital, it is not everywhere that they can go to. As such, majority of the people depend on the Okada people for mobility from one destination to another.
The worst situation would be a sudden increase in criminal activities. It has happened before, let’s not make the same mistake again.
What I believe should matter most at this difficult moment is enlightenment, to make sure they all abide by certain guidelines which include properly making use of facemask and ensure that they are always with a single passenger at a time, who should equally protect themselves with a facemask, in addition to any other necessary preventive measures outlined by the health authorities.
It’s absolutely everyone’s responsibility to abide by necessary health guidelines. The “New Normal” is going to come to an end with proper enlightenment and adherence to safety measures, not unnecessary restrictions with negative bearing on the economic survival of the people.
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