Hunger in the midst of coronavirus pandemic

By Bisi Olominu
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The coronavirus pandemic broke out in Wahun, China in December 2019 and the whole world has been shattered with pangs of death following. Since people could not go for their daily job to earn income, hunger and privation have set on the people. Economic activities have become very minimal and goods  and services are now been sale at high prices.

In a family, meals are now being rationed and things are becoming unbearable for some families.

Although governments at both federal and states have rolled out some palliatives measures, but majority are not benefitting. Individuals are also doing their bits, but majority of the populace have not benefitted. With the lockdown and curfew imposed in the country, prices of goods and services have gone up astronomically. A Kongo of rice, local now cost between N650 to N750 while foreign cost N1,000.

A Kongo of garri which was N120/N150 before, now cost N250 to N300.

The cost of local delicacy, pupuru now cost N350 from N200  while beans now cost N500 and N350 respectively.

Beverages too have gone up in the country, prices range between 80percent to 100 percent.

Perhaps nothing illustrates the inadequacy of the palliative measures rolled out to cushion the effects of the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown in the country than the angry protests of distressed citizens.

The situation is particularly severe in Lagos, one of the states where the Federal Government imposed a lockdown. President Muhammadu Buhari announced some days shutdown of business, economic and social activities in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to slow down the exposure of Nigerians to the coronavirus pandemic, but many residents of Lagos  and the FCT are yet to get any palliatives.

Hungry and angry, they have been handing down ultimatums. The situation is the same in several other states where the government imposed partial lockdowns.

In particular, the issue of palliatives has been mired in controversy.

In most cases, residents of the affected states have complained bitterly that they only heard of the palliatives premised but did not receive anything. They wondered how the government intended them to cope with worsening hunger and poverty, having forced them to stay indoors without providing foodstuff or stipends. It is certainly troubling that in the affected states, palliatives are either non-existent or negligible.

Speaking with The Hope, Mr. Tade Olaifa said that governments have not been sincere in the distribution of the palliatives as many that are indeed vulnerable are not considered in the distribution. He urged government to consider those not cared for in the first time. He also called on the federal government to use Bank Verification Number ,BVN, in distributing the next stage of palliatives distribution.

His words: ” Several millions of goods are  said to have been distributed in the country since, but majority of the people have not benefitted. People are hungry and government is not doing much to alleviate the plight of Nigerians. Some families are going through excruciating pains and agony over inability to eat properly and cater for their homes. In a normal clime, governments are giving their people palliatives without any noise. But in our clime, millions of naira have been distributed without any effect on the populace”.

” If our governments cannot do anything for us, they should first curb the pandemic and thereafter allow us to go for our normal duties to cater for ourselves”.

Also speaking, Mr. Tunde Adeyeye said Nigerians should do anything humanly possible to overcome the pandemic. According to him, some have lost their lives through this virus and there is the need for Nigerians to cooperate with the government to overcome the pandemic.

” The country and Nigerians as a whole have lost fortunes to the pandemic. Well, this is not an issue to me and most Nigerians too, what is uppermost in the minds of Nigerians is to go back to their trades giving them satisfaction on daily basis. We hear that millions of naira have been distributed, yet many are still hungry.

To Miss Tolani Oke, what is uppermost in her mind is the completion of her academic calendar. She posited that many have been lost to the pandemic, lamenting that her first semester examination was about to commence when the students were asked to go home.

” I am earnestly praying to God almighty to give our leaders and health workers wisdom to conquer the pandemic in time, so that, we will not lose the entire session. God too should hear our prayers by helping us to conquer the pandemic in time. What human being cannot do, only God will do it. I am not concerned about the money being distributed to the vulnerable in the country, but more concerned about my future, my education is my priority and those at the forefront of tackling the pandemic, I am praying for their safety”.

In the words of Master Adekunle Adeola, governments at all level should do everything to curtail the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the country, so that, he could start is schooling. He said that the disruption of his education is giving him problem, praying that solution would be found to the pandemic very soon.

His words: ” Some of us are not very much concern about the ugly situation, mostly the hunger going on in the country. I am much concern about completing my education. I am still in primary school, going to secondary school, but it has been disrupted by the outbreak of the pandemic. I give kudos to the essential workers who are in the field confronting the disease, praying for their safety and praying to God that very soon the pandemic will be overthrown”.