Harsh Realities of the Pandemic in A Lasgidi Story

Vanessa Obioha

For many who converged at EbonyLife Cinemas on Easter Sunday for the premiere of Efizzi Group’s expository documentary ‘A Lasgidi Story’, the nearly one-hour film was a wake-up call for African leaders to improve the healthcare sector.

Conceived by Collins Akpapunam, the helmsman of the group shortly after Nigeria recorded its index case of COVID-19 last year, the documentary captured the harrowing poverty of citizens who unlike their rich counterparts were subjected to hardship during the lockdown period of the pandemic. Akpapunam focused his lens on the paradox of a bubbling city like Lagos where poverty and wealth are unfriendly neighbours. He encountered ordinary folks who expressed their frustration at the government for imposing lockdown, thereby subjecting them to more privation as they were unable to go about their daily hustles.

Among these were the hardcore believers of the COVID-19 hoax. This group of people were convinced that the coronavirus which has claimed more than two million lives globally only exist in rich neighbourhoods, therefore, only the rich die of COVID-19. The poor, in their views, were immune to the disease. However, some concerned Nigerians expressed worry over the economic implications of the pandemic. They argued that the enforced lockdown could lead to death due to hunger and deprivation.

But the documentary’s sole focus was not only on the ordinary citizens. Almost every stratum of the society was mirrored. A major highlight of the documentary was the story by Dr Amara Allison who shared her experience on diagnosing the Italian index case in Nigeria. ‘A Lasgidi Story’ also touched on

the mental health of survivors and stigmatisation.

“African leaders must be prepared to dig deep and seek an African solution to the next pandemic as history has taught us that there will always be another pandemic and Africa must be ready,” stated Akpapunam on the aim of his documentary.

He added that the prediction by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the pandemic will have a devastating effect on third world countries never materialised but it shouldn’t make African countries complacent. “Rather, they must seek their solutions than accept hook, line and sinker the use of lockdowns and restrictions as employed in the West.”

The documentary which was supported by brands such as Wema Bank, International SOS, Avis, Alaro City, CIS Moist Beach Club among others will also be available on streaming platforms that will be announced soon.