The impact of Covid-19 virus pandemic lock down on the livelihood of the poor: The case of Nigeria’s Lagos State.

In the first video we see a woman warning the Lagos state government of a potential uprising of the poor masses in the slums of Lagos state due to hunger caused by the corona virus lock-down. She complains of insufficient planning, food and palliative support for the poor families in Lagos state.

She states that the poor especially the youth are becoming reckless with the potential of a rebellion brewing among the masses due to the suffering caused by the lock down.

She advises the government to send government officials to talk to the people to determine what they need and to defuse the anger of the masses under the difficult circumstances of the lock-down.

In the second video we see that the Covid-19 lock down is especially devastating to the welfare of poor who survive on a daily wage from trading and other menial activities. The prices of food items has increased tremendous in Lagos and across the country and government food hand outs are insufficient to maintain normal existence for the poor who have no money to stockpile food items.

The inadequate and intermittent supply of electricity nationwide in Nigeria also intensifies the desperate condition of the poor more than the wealthier citizens because the poor lack refrigeration to store perishable foods.

Lagos state in common with the federal government of Nigeria and many other Nigerian states recently extended the lock-down for another two weeks in an effort to control the further spread of the corona virus (Covid-19).

What began as a normal lock down and stay at home government policy in Lagos and neighboring Ogun State in Nigeria has resulted in arm youths and vigilantes taking up arms to attack residents of richer neighborhoods and suburbs looting neighborhoods and stores. Many neighborhoods in Lagos are now living in fear

Police stations are becoming overwhelmed with false calls of attacks and panic from residents. Potential revolt against police authority and the government in general is very real if proper policy communication and steps are not taken to placate reckless youths who have become enraged with the extended lock down announcement and insufficient governmental measures to ameliorate the suffering of the masses