Adamawa state Lockdown: Hunger Virus Awaits Residents
The decision of the Adamawa State government to lockdown the state for fourteen days in order to prevent the spread of corona virus in the state has grave implications to the lives of the masses in the state. Though, the state government’s decision is commendable as is it part of preventive measures to curtail the spread of the Corona Virus in the country.
But this decision have serious pandemic than the dreaded corona virus itself which the state is fearful trying to prevent, considering the social wellbeing of the masses, viz- vs- viz their means of livelihood.
It was gathered that most residents of state, survives on menial jobs on daily basis to source for means of livelihood as most of them are: labourers, petty traders and peasants’ farmers who depends mainly on their daily earnings to feed their families.
Therefore, for the state government to come out with this decision in this critical moment, without any concrete provisions for their feedings and wellbeing, is detrimental.
Currently, the lock down statement of the Adamawa state government has sent jitters to the spines of residents in the state. Now, they have begun contemplation on how to survive in the next fourteen days. Considering the reality on ground, if this decision is not review and reconsider, the state may likely contracted with what can be best describe as hunger virus.
There is tendency that an average resident of the state may experience food starvation, if care is not taking, may cause more damage than corona virus. Right now, most of the people have not make provisions of what to eat in the forthcoming fourteen days on ground and the Adamawa state government have not in any way try to cushion the hardship that awaits the people through any means of interventions or to provided them with any food stuff. Most Yola residents are now pondering on what to eat in this perilous time.
Speaking in an interview with our Correspondent in Yola, a Journalist and Publisher of weekly news magazine based in Yola, Alhaji Umar Sahid, told this news medium that he is okay with the governments’ decision but argue that the lock down of the state has great consequence on the lives of the people in the state. He said “from the onset, the steps taking by state government is okay. It is okay in the sense that, governments at all levels are trying to ensure that this contagious disease does not spread across and possible take the lives of their citizens.
“The problem there is that there are no adequate preparations and provisions to cushion the hardship of the common men by the government. He said that the common man goes out every day to make his means of livelihood. So if he is lockdown by the government there will be suffering. Because these are people that have to go out to seek for their means of livelihood on daily basis.
Therefore, advised Adamawa state government to emulate President Trump and provide the people with basic necessities in order to ameliorate their hardship. “President Trump made a provision of seven hundred dollars per each American to stay in door, therefore, our government should emulate this by providing common men basic necessities to enable them stay in door,” he suggested.
On the implications of this lock down to a common men, Sahid Umar a onetime Commissioner of Education in the state advised the government to reconsider their decision and make provisions for the benefit of a common man.
“Prevention is better than cure. It is better to prevent than to cure. So in my view, the reason for this lock down is for the government to prevent this deadly disease which so far has no vaccine or curing medicine from spreading and I commend them for adopting this proactive measure,” he said.