FCT residents cry out as lockdown causes hardship

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, are counting their losses as the Federal Goverrnment’s lockdown order continues to cause the|m hardship.
A grocery seller KABIRU Muhammed, from Zamfara State but resident in the FCT , who spoke to Daybreak lamented that the COVID-19 l compulsory lockdown order is seriously affecting his business because the Police are always pursuing him from his makeshift shade where his customers come to buy. “Now I have to hide in a corner hoping and praying that some of my customers locate me here. Eking a living now is very difficult, he said.
Muhammed also complained that with the lockdown getting transportation to and from the Orange Market at Nasarrawa and back to the FCT is very difficult, ‘ it has affected prices of groceries.
Muhammed said as if this is not Police are also chasing people from the streets so all this is affecting his means of livelihood .
He also said that the social distancing is chasing his customers away from him, adding that there is no more cordiality.
Another petty trader, Abubakar Abu Musa from Kebbi State complained that since the one month lockdown in the FCT, he has lost customers who would rather stay indoors instead of coming out to make purchases for fear of contracting Coronavirus.
Market is not like before, unlike now that govrnment is saying that people should stay indoors because of Coronavirus. Madam like is very hard, Muslim Ramadan has started but I don’t have what to eat at the break of fast this evening, Abu Musa complained.
He said that although he was told that govrnment would give palliatives to the masses he has not received anything or seen anyone who has collected.
He said he has however resigned his faith to Almighty Allah who always provides for him and his family.
Mrs Chibuzor Ekeazu, a mother of four and a civil servant who lives at Karu site told Daybreak the lockdown of over one month now coupled with the fear of Coronavirus is making daily living difficult.
Ekeazu said she does not know what is Corovirus but watched news about the pandemic on the TV.
She lamented that as a mother with four children to feed everyday and a civil servant it has being difficult coping because her last salary was in March which she has exhausted. We are hoping and praying that govrnment will pity us and pay us our April salary, otherwise it would be terrific, she bemoaned
She also lamented about Government’s palliative which she says is ellusive because she is still waiting for it.
The Federal Government has ordered lockdown in Lagos, Ogun and the FCT in the four weeks as a result of increased cases of COVID-19 in the country