‘We’re Suffering, Light No Dey’ – Nigerians Narrates The Harsh Economic Reality Of Coronavirus

With the country well into its second week of the imposed lockdown by the Federal Government due to the coronavirus, Nigerians are fast realizing that there can be a lot of pain and anger from hunger.

The coronavirus which started its reign of terror in the Asian country of China, took a slow but steady run but ultimately found itself in Africa, then made its descent into Nigeria. With over 254 cases of the horrific monster in the country, there is the possibility that the lockdown might extend for more than the initial two weeks.

The government says it is donating and giving food items and cash to impoverished Nigerians to help them during this trying period. Celebrites are trying in their own way to ensure that there is an equal distribution of wealth through online giveaways this period.

However, it is a statement by singer, Simi that although recent had kept me bothered from the period the lockdown was instituted. Simi had asked on Twitter how those without access to the Internet were faring, because in a sense, they are perhaps the one who need the monies being doled out.

I decided to ask around the people in my neighborhood and find out how they were coping. Working from home and holed out in my parent’s place in Ofada, Ogun state, I visited a number of homes to find out how the lower class Nigerians were surviving this period.

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My first stop was what is referred to as a “Face-me-I-Face-You” apartment. A dinghy house of 10 rooms, poorly constructed with little space for movement in a dimly lit pathway.

I met Miriam, a hairdresser. Said she was 25. Unmarried. I asked what she thought of the coronavirus. She looked at me with strange eyes and said in Yoruba, that she was scared. Everyday when she listened to the radio, she felt more fear than the day before. Her business was suffering because no one was coming to make hair as everyone was staying indoor.

“I dey make like 2,000 naira everyday but with this coronavirus, na suffering na im don take over everywhere. Garri don cost for market. Light no dey. We no even fit waka go anywhere. Me I dey scared. I just want make the corona thing comot.”

When I asked if she had received any of the items the government was distributing, she hissed a no and took to insulting the present administration in her local dialect.

For Azeez, a generator repairer, the story is not that different, although he says there’s a glimmer of light in his own case. A family man with 4 kids, he spoke to me in Yoruba.

I asked Azeez if he thought the coronavirus was real and not a sham. At that he screamed before saying it was not a joke. He said the coronavirus had punctured his pocket and although he was not living from hand to mouth, the present situation was not better.

The reason he said was with most people at home and the absence of electricity, generators were being put on more. This meant that he was always available to repair the machine if it developed any fault.

Ironically, while he knew the coronavirus was around, Azeez said he was not using any sanitizer or face mask. When I asked why, he laughed and told me “A true Yourba man can never fall prey to that illness and even if he does, there are always herbs to take”.

He however thought the government was not doing enough to stop the virus. It was insane to tell people to sit down at home and not provide economic relief. This meant that he had not received any package from the government.

The situation of Azeez was not different from Rose, Obinna and Ayo who all shared their sad tales of the economic woes they were facing with no access to their business, and the Internet to partake of the giveaways by celebrities.

The lockdown is crippling business and hitting everyone in different places, but perhaps the people at the lower rung of the social ladder are most affected. The government might be working hard to provide a panacea to this plague and ensure every Nigerian goes back to how life was before, but we can only sit and ask ,when? When will the prayer for the end of COVID-19 be answered?

Photo Credit: Getty