COVID-19, has had a profound effect on my personal life and I have always prayed that the current plague ravaging the entire world should never come to an end because if there is one period that I have ever lived comfortably in my entire lifetime, it is during this outbreak.
I have bought three private jets within this time and I’m still counting. My wife confessed at a point that could life be this sweet?
Some people alleged that I have got a printing machine that prints money and I said I love the allegation, it is a good one.
COVID-19 has obviously done more good than harm to my life and that of my family. The 2019 Coronavirus that claimed millions of lives has rather advanced my fortunes. The period has been more profitable to me than anytime else in my life.
There are a lot of positive changes in my life and I will continue to speak in tongues as long as the pandemic lasts because speaking in tongues is synonymous with printing money.
Apostle Johnson Suleman (Pastor)
COVID-19 is a virus that has created tension and devastation around the globe.
The Nigerian government has taken numerous health, social and economic measures, to cushion the effect or impact of the virus.
Some of the policy responses have weaknesses that are not commensurate with the magnitude of the problem.
Many Nigerians lost their jobs, became unemployed and this has given birth to increased rate of kidnappings, fraud, killings, rape and a lot more, just for them to make ends meet.
The Stock Market plunged when investors pulled out their investments into the so-called safe Havens, like the USA Treasury bonds and this has effected the economy, transportation and even our social life.
Many have taken the advantage of the pandemic to increase the price of goods.
Households are experiencing a shock because of the increase in price of major food items. For example, a custard rubber of beans that was sold for N1000 now sells for N2000 and so on.
The Global price of oil has dropped because of the COVID-19, despite diversification which is being emphasized in Nigeria currently.
Mrs Ajuma Ajonye (Businesswoman)
Just as we celebrate anniversaries of notable events, it is also necessary to mark one year after the emergence of COVID-19.
The pandemic came like a flood but thankfully we survived it.
After one year of the COVID-19, the world has recorded massive loss of jobs which has made things very difficult. We can say plans have been disrupted due to the delay witnessed in the educational sector and that delay has caused a setback in the academic calendar, movement has been reduced as has been advised.
This has not only put a strain on business expansion and personal interaction but has also made physical businesses move their work online, where people now work from home.
People are scared of spending because of the low inflow of income so there is less cash in circulation. We have as well seen a geometrical increase in death rate. Some as a result of being infected by the virus while others due to their inability to reach to the places they could get help.
Eric Igbudu (Sound Engineer)
It has been a trying moment in the history of the country’s healthcare system. As a country, Nigeria has so many reasons to glorify God, for recording lower number of cases as compared to countries like Britain, United States of America and other parts of the world.
The devastating effect of COVID-19 has badly affected the country, by technically plunging it back to recession. The lockdown which was one of the steps taken to curtail the spread of the virus also had its consequences with vestiges of it still living with us today.
In a nutshell, the one year of the COVID-19 in Nigeria, is better described horrible, gullible, terrible and devastating year as it suffered one of the worst pandemic and also witnessed the worst economic situation that will ever remain with us as a bitter lesson that we must wake-up and work towards putting not just the economy back on its feet but also ensuring that our healthcare system is developed better than the way it was from the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
Mr Reubens Agbeh (Student)
COVID-19 has affected our day to day life and slowed down the global economy. The pandemic, has affected thousands of people within the last one year in Nigeria, who were either sick or died due to the disease.
This virus has spread exponentially, making countries to ban social gatherings, lockdown their activities and enforce strict quarantine measures, to control the spread of this highly communicable disease.
The pandemic has rapidly affected businesses, disrupted the world trade and movements. Identifying the disease at the early stage was vital because it controlled the rapid spread from one person to another.
Most countries have slowed down their manufacturing products. Sectors and industries like the pharmaceutical industries, solar power sector, tourism, information and electronics industries, were affected by effect of this disease.
This virus has created significant knock on the daily life of citizens, as well the global economy.
Gloria Ugwo Ogine (Student)
For me, the effect of the one year of COVID-19 in Nigeria, is largely negative.
Many persons lost their jobs. Businesses were either closed down or had low patronage due to the lockdown regulations. Hunger also increased. The COVID- 19 created a new norm for us which is the use of facemasks.
In many places now, such as the hospitals, banks, churches etc, one cannot gain access without wearing facemask.
However, it has boosted some aspects of the economy with much success. For instance, the digital economy which many persons in Nigeria are now embracing and moving towards, and the E -commerce which is a part of it.
Many internet businesses are thriving and many have engaged into online marketing where they sell their products without many expenses. They do it through multilevel marketing or through cryptosystem. The digital economy is booming, although recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ordered all Commercial Banks and all licensed financial institutions, to stop facilitating transactions through cryptosystem exchanges in Nigeria for obvious reasons.
Fabian Ata (Businessman)
