An Igbo adage says “Ana adiro nma bu uru ndi nze” (If things go wrong, there is always someone who benefits from it) the coronavirus pandemic has left most of us incapacitated.
People who earn their daily bread through daily pay, employers who cannot pay salaries anymore because the company isn’t making money anymore, importers whose goods are stuck on the other side. We are all in financial difficulties, wondering when life will resume and how to survive. Will life go back to full gear? Or will our lives change forever after this?
However, there are persons who benefit from this pandemic, carelessly or carefully, consciously or unconsciously. This article does not in any way say the below mentioned are opportunists, rather the article picks out a group of persons who will come out of the pandemic when it is over with smiles.
Internet Service Providers
Internet usage has increased in the past days by over 40%. It is not rocket science, people are at home, with so much time in their hands they make video calls more, Netflix, stream pornographic contents, face time friends and family who are away, make more calls.
As of the 1st quarter of 2019, MTN declared N282 billion revenue which is projected to increase by 45% this year in relation to the effect of the lockdown, this means they are likely making double of their profit.
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Note that most companies are having virtual meetings, this consumes gigabytes of data, large files are sent via mail, religious organizations are live streaming, It is safe to say that internet service providers are smiling to the bank after this pandemic.
Also note that in South Africa, MTN crashed the price of data to enable the society to function appropriately, however, Nigeria- a country that has one of the highest internet usage and penetration in Africa is yet to get any of such benefits. Internet providers should be called out by Individuals, organizations and the government to do the right thing.
Health Workers
Health workers are putting their lives on the line for all of us. They are our heroes; they stand the chance of getting infected every minute yet put their lives on the line regardless. We pray for them, hoping none of them get infected, wishing this pandemic will go away as soon as possible so our lives can go back to normal.
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Nonetheless, the government has taken steps to ensure they are well catered for in case of eventualities. With purported high weekly wages for doctors and nurses that are well involved in the fight with the NCDC.
No amount can compare to a person’s life, if everything goes as planned and there are no eventualities, the health workers will definitely be smiling to the bank. We are happy for them; they deserve more for the sacrifices they are making.
Food Vendors
One thing keeping the world sane is the presence of food, the consolation that you are able to order food, buy and cook food. If food is removed, there will be chaos in the world. Some persons argue that hunger is deadlier than coronavirus; their school of thought is very valid.
Food vendors, however, are perpetuating evil by hiking prices of food. Stemming from the vendors who buy food items from farmers at the village and double the price. In southeast Nigeria at some point, a paint of garri sold for as high as N1500 as against a N550 cost price an act condemned by all.
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During this pandemic, there has been a lot of unfounded hike in prices. We cannot help but realize that food vendors are at the winning side of this equation, some out of greed, others sheer luck.
If you are a food vendor, this is not time to make extra gains, cut down prices for customers because this period most persons are not earning just spending; it is only human to make life easier for people around you.
Media Organizations
The media has been one of the most important tools towards the eradication of this pandemic, and as expected, it was exempted from the lockdown by the presidency.
The media’s role is underestimated; one can only sit back and appreciate the degree of awareness deployed by the print media, radio stations, television stations, and digital media.
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The information about the virus and preventive measures spread like wildfire, thanks to the media who are heroes’ without a cape. However, these media outfits and their affiliates are likely going to have the best laugh; you can call it reward for labor.
Multichoice (the parent company of GoTV and DSTV. has recorded extra visits in the past few weeks, they have also reported that a number of subscribers who have been AWOL for some time have continued their subscription.
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Most persons are glued to the TV eager to receive updates. If Multichoice is smiling, all affiliate media brands are smiling too. It could be called a reward for the hard labor put into curbing the virus.
Let us not forget digital media organizations (blogs, Vlogs, Influencers, etc.) who give us daily updates on phones and PC. They would have amassed traffic and translated it with good money.
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