Residents of Lagos State on Monday defied the post-lockdown controlled easing phase announced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as many residents trooped out in large numbers in defiance of the social distancing principles.
At bus stops across the state, eager passengers were seen locked together as they struggle to secure seats in the available buses.
It was the same story in banks as scores of customers besiege banks as early 7.30 a.m, standing too close to one another in defiance of the social distancing order.
However, as offices, business, markets, and stores resumed operations with limited hours and staff capacity, NEXT EDITION observed that the compulsory use of face masks announced by the government recorded appreciable compliance as many Lagosians, old and young, complied with the order.
However, the level of compliance was higher among women and children against the men that defied the order, or hung the mask below the chin.
Report from Mushin area had it that commuters and commercial bus operators defied the social distancing as bus conductors insisted commuters must sit four on a roll against two announced by the government.
At the Mushin and Ladipo markets, traders failed to observe precautionary measures of social distancing as they clustered with buyers, haggling over prices of goods and items.
Recall that Governor Sanwo-Olu, the incident manager, COVID-19 had recently announced that “Lagos State will be very strict in the implementation of this directive.
“As a first step, I am directing that vehicles carrying food and agricultural produce into Lagos from any part of the country cannot have more than seven passengers on board. The same applies when these vehicles are leaving the state,” he said.
As part of the social distancing principles, the governor instructed public officers on Grade Levels 1 to 12 to work from home and urged others in the senior cadre to draw up a Flexible Work Roster in compliance with Social Distancing principles.
He also said commuters in public transport must wear face masks and buses must load to 60 per cent of their capacity.
