Ogun State residents were on Friday confused when the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, failed to address residents on whether the weekend lockdown should continue or not.
Great Achiever Magazine reports that the governor had extended the weekend lockdown for two weeks, which expired yesterday.
But the failure of the governor to give further directive on the continuation of the weekend lockdown has thrown residents into a state of confusion.
While some residents have interpreted the silence of the governor on the lockdown to mean that the weekend lockdown might have been cancelled, others have adopted a cautious ‘let’s wait and see’ attitude over the matter.
A cross section of residents of the state, who spoke to Great Achiever Magazine, expressed mixed feelings over the continued weekend lockdown.
While some are in support of the continuation of the weekend lockdown, others are calling for its cancellation.
According to Mrs Sade Oloruntoba who is a trader, the weekend lockdown has outlived its desirability.
She said the weekend lockdown is no longer effective, as many people were always seen going about their normal business unhindered during the period of the lockdown.
Mrs Oloruntoba advised the government to look for another way of dealing with COVID-19 instead of keeping people at home on weekends.
Another respondent, Mr Babatunde Akinola, a business man, called on the state government to change its strategy because the weekend lockdown is no longer effective.
He said the law enforcement agents are the ones profiting from the weekend lockdown under the guise of enforcement.
Mr Kola Onifade, a civil servant, in his own opinion advised that the weekend lockdown should continue.
He said the increasing number of people who contracted COVID-19 has made it imperative for the lockdown to continue.
In the opinion of Mr Bashiru Fakorede, a Transporter, the weekend lockdown should be cancelled because people are no longer observing it.
He said the lockdown is only effective in Abeokuta because it is the state capital.
Fakorede said in other parts of the state, it is business as usual. He urged the governor to come up with a new idea of dealing with the coronavirus rather than locking people at home.
Meanwhile, Ogun State government is yet to take a decision on the reopening of schools and religious centres, despite pressures from stakeholders.
