New rules that require people to confirm their Covid status before attending large gatherings in Nigeria’s biggest city are being largely ignored, reflecting a general indifference towards the pandemic, despite a recent surge in cases.
While the UK added, and then removed, Nigeria to and from a travel red list over concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, life in the country carried on pretty much as normal.
Even some officials don’t seem to be taking their own advice too seriously. Just 48 hours after announcing new Covid restrictions in Lagos, state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was at a state-sponsored cooking show with the winner of reality TV show Big Brother Naija.
Attendees and other government officials are now required to show they’re fully vaccinated (currently two doses) or proof of a negative test taken in the past 48 hours to attend such gatherings but this did not happen.
There has been a more than 500% increase in Covid cases across Nigeria since last week, pushing authorities in Lagos to introduce new restrictions.
The measures are largely targeted at young revellers preparing for two weeks of wild parties across Lagos in what is known as “Detty December”. It is a period when Nigeria’s Afrobeats stars try to outdo each other with lavishly staged shows that attract thousands, while many neighbourhoods hold 24-hour street parties.
Source:Fiilafmonline/BBC
