COVID-19: Abuja estates take precautionary measures

The outbreak of coronavirus has made some estates managers in Lokogoma adopt some precautionary measures like screening residents before they are allowed inside the premises. Our reporter observed that security guards have intensified the screening and people without a clear mission are denied entrance. With the lockdown, motorists that are not residents of the estates […]

The outbreak of coronavirus has made some estates managers in Lokogoma adopt some precautionary measures like screening residents before they are allowed inside the premises.

Our reporter observed that security guards have intensified the screening and people without a clear mission are denied entrance.

With the lockdown, motorists that are not residents of the estates and could not state their assignments were turned back. At the Bentell Gardens Estate, Lokogoma, one of the guards, who gave his name simply as Sunday, said only people that reside in the estate are allowed in.

He said though this has been the method in the estate before the outbreak of coronavirus, it has been intensified lately to keep the residents safer.

One of the security guards at MINFA 1 Estate, Lokogoma, said before anybody be admitted into the estate, the person would be made to wash his hands and apply sanitizer.

Another security guard at MINFA 1 Garden Estate, Oluwole Ijaola, said pedestrians must wash their hands with soap under running water and apply sanitizer  before they are allowed inside.

He said soap, water and sanitizer were positioned at the entrance to the estate.

Ijaola said at the beginning of the outbreak, people were hesitant in complying but now, on seeing the water and sanitizer, they move there to wash their hands without being told.

He could not say if there was a thermometer to check the body temperature but said motorists are screened properly, adding that admitting people into the estate is a privilege because it is a private property.

Ijaola said the guards also keep safe distance from visitors.

At the First Generation Estate, also, our reporter observed that there is provision of soap, water, and sanitizer at the gate for pedestrians use before going into the estate.

A security guard at the estate who gave his name as Bright, said they ensure that those coming inside the estate wash their hands thoroughly.

A resident of the estate, Uche David, said he washed his hands when leaving the estate and that it helps. He said almost everywhere and everybody now has soap and water to wash their hands, “It is good because there cannot be too much of it,” he added.

He said further, “When Ebola came; sanitizer was introduced but all the personal hygiene disappeared when the epidemic finished. The estate managers have done well with the water and soap and then sanitizers. People are using it and I think it is a good development. How I wish it remains like that even at the end of this pandemic.”

At EFAB Estate, however, there was no provision for water, soap and sanitizer. A resident of the estate, Kikelomo Michael, said though the estate managers did not make provision for water and soap at the entrance, individuals have them at the gates and entrances of their homes.

“A house on my street has hand sanitizer outside, so I believe the man expects all his visitors to use it before entering his home because he was not outside. There are people that put soaps in their compound by the tap, so that as you step inside the compound, the next thing you will do is wash your hands,” she said.

She said the outbreak had opened up several forgotten things like personal and environmental hygiene.