The globe was in disbelief after the COVID-19 shutdown. We hadn't encountered it in our century, which may explain why we weren't ready. However, everyone was astonished by the COVID-19 lockdown, including the government.
Even the wealthiest nations were unable to prevent the pandemic repercussions on their economies, which caused economic hardship in every nation.
Recap Of 2020 Lockdown
The pandemic began in Wuhan City, China, and we observed as individuals perished and some battled for their lives. It was horrible to watch individuals struggle to breathe, and some of them lost loved ones. The scientists were working tirelessly in the lab looking for a cure, but it wasn't found in time.
On January 23, 2020, a total lockdown was proclaimed in Wuhan and other cities; there was no movement to stop the disease's spread and come up with a cure.
While I was watching television, I was shocked to discover that there will come a moment when there won't be any movement, even though it has happened before and some nations were in complete lockdown. Before the Covid Lockdown, I saw a video on YouTube about the "Spanish Flu," a pandemic that killed a lot of people between 1918 and 1920.
Though the pandemic would only affect China or perhaps select regions of the Asian nations, due to other countries' negligence, it spread to several nations.
After realizing that two people had Covid 19-related diseases, the Federal Government of Nigeria imposed a complete lockdown on March 23, 2020.
How I Was Affected
When I heard that two major cities in Nigeria would be placed on total lockdown with immediate effect, I was working on a project. I immediately halted site operations and ordered my workers to quit.
I was upset because I had not planned for it and had anticipated receiving payment the following day. Since my employer also heard about the lockdown and no one knows when it would be lifted, the payment was postponed by my employer.
When the lockdown journey began, everything was still running smoothly, but after the first week, my family and I consumed all the groceries in the house, and I now realize we are in serious trouble. At the nearby neighbourhood market, I purchased some food. Again, not too long, the money ran out and all the groceries were consumed. At that time, I spent all of my savings.
Even though I was employed on-site by a construction business and received a monthly income, there were no site allowances available at the time due to the lockdown, so the money was insufficient to cover my family's needs
My Escape Route
My company's CEO held a meeting with the State Government at the time. They should permit us to work there, and all covid protocols will be observed because the project involved a road, and it involved a busy road. It would be an excellent time to work as everyone was at home.
That was how I got away, and I was able to get back to the site, but I wasn't delighted to see that all allowances had been reduced by 50%. But since there was no other option, I managed the pay cut through the end of the lockdown.
If Lockdown Were To Happen Again
Although it was a terrible experience for many people, I didn't pray that the world would go into lockdown again while I was alive. My uncle died during the pandemic, and I still think of him every day. He was a strong foundation for our family, but the pandemic took him from us.
During that time, many people lost their jobs, several businesses failed, and many are still struggling to recover.
Many of my friends lost their well-paying jobs, and they had a difficult time finding new employment for several months.
The Covid lockdown opened my eyes because, after giving it some serious thought, I realized I wouldn't have any way of surviving if it continued for an entire year.
This prompts me to create a side business working from home. I began by writing articles for Opera News. Some were rejected, while others were accepted, but I always received payment at the end of the month. The payout was small, but it allowed me to work as a side hustle online.
Now if it were to happen again, I can't be trapped because I'm a part-time freelancer, and also a blogger. Both Hive and my freelance work will have my complete attention. I will launch a YouTube channel and post tutorials on content creation and online shopping. I wasn't able to launch my YouTube channel because of my busy onsite working job.
I will be able to develop more digital skills, thanks to the opportunities that technology has given us online.
Thank You All For Reading.