Coronavirus Pandemic
A cross-section of FCT residents on Monday said that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had taught them lessons and opened new opportunities for many people in the country.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the effects of the pandemic on people and the economy, some of the respondents, said that the COVID-19 pandemic had brought some positive changes to them.
Mrs Vivian Abraham, a businesswoman, said the pandemic had opened new doors for many people.
According to her, many new businesses are springing up. “The face mask is a thing that was never in the mind of anyone to design and make, but now, it has become a business source for people to provide for their families.
“Some house wives were forced to look for how to fend for their families since their husbands could not go to work as usual to cater for them,” she said.
Mr Andrew Okechukwu, a resident of Lokogoma, said that the pandemic made it possible for him and few others in his neighbourhood to start home delivery of food services.
“Some of us use our motorcycles and vehicles as delivery van to home without touching each other, just to observe the COVID-19 protocols as directed by the Federal Government, to get money to run our homes.
“Apart from this, children are now made to engage in skills acquisition like shoe making, hair dressing, tailoring and printing and others and this has made most children to be better equipped to succeed and be self-reliant.
“As for me, the pandemic even with its negative effects had left some good lessons for us as a people,” he said.
He said that some house wives were frying cake and some were roasting corns in their street.
Mr Roland Odiese, who resides in Asokoro, told NAN that the lockdown period made many promiscuous men to sit at home and were more responsive and responsible to their families.
He said those men that hardly stay at home with their families, had nowhere to go and were forced to stay at home with their families, saying that this built more family bond and closeness.
“Parents got to know their children more and families got closer to God because there was now enough time for them to relate with God.
“The pandemic really brought with it some positive things, which we should be grateful to God for,’’ he said.
Mr Samuel Lawal, General Manager, Lawal Communication Links Ltd, said the pandemic had taught him of the need to save and make future plans.
According to him, during the pandemic, many people that died were as a result of hunger and diseases that had no connection with the COVID-19.
“Many people died as a result of not having what to eat or the means to take care of their health.
“ I found out that only those that had saved something aside were not terribly affected by the pandemic, it was a situation that nobody had envisaged.
“It was never imagined that a day will come when the whole world would be shut down totally and that businesses would be shut down churches and mosques.
“Nobody envisaged or thought that it was possible for them not to go to clubs.
“The pandemic changed people’s lives, most importantly it taught people to be disciplined and to maintain good hygiene.
Lawal also urged the government to save and plan for the future for the citizens. (NAN)
– Sept. 21, 2020 @ 15:47 GMT |
Tags: Lessons of COVID-19 by FCT residents
