THE fuel subsidy removal was a New Year package that shocked and threw Nigerians off balance. This resulted in many people selling their personal belongings to

enable them to pay their way back to their destinations after increased transportation fares from wherever they had gone to celebrate the Christmas and New Year. Prices of foodstuffs also went up, and transport workers groan under the weight of paying more than 100 per cent hike in fuel pump price.

While the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other civil society groups organised colourful rallies to press home the demand on government to revert the pump price to N65, many Nigerians, irrespective of age and sex, ensured total compliance by turning the streets to football pitches and carnival spots to prevent movement.

However, with all of these going on, many who because of their busy lifestyles, found the stay-at-home an opportunity to do what they hardly had time for before, like sleeping, exercising, resting, chatting by phones, visiting friends and even, lovemaking!

In a lighter mood, Hers crew went to seek people’s experiences to know how they spent the week-long forced holiday. Excerpts:

Segun Adefemi, factory worker: I really missed my girlfriends. How I wished one of them came down and got stranded during the strike. On Friday, I used almost N1,500 worth of credit to link up with some of them. The excuse they all gave me was that there was no vehicle to transport them to my place. I had to force myself to sleep at night without achieving my aim. I really missed my babes, especially this harmattan season.

Taiwo Peter, student: The strike action helped people like me to  rest. Since I had to stay at home compulsorily, it really helped me to reflect over life and pray the more. It also availed me the opportunity of getting in contact with some people I wouldn’t have contacted in order to know how well they were. Also, it had in a way improved family and friend relationship, because I actually went out of my way to see one of my friends who, on a good day, I wouldn’t have thought of visiting.

Adekunle Omole, fashion designer: The sit-at-home strike further sharpened cordial relationship between lovers, especially those who are staying far away from each other. The rate at which lovers frequently called each other to know what was happening at the other end wasn’t  funny at all. But for those living close to each other, it was an opportunity to rekindle the fire.

Paul Okocha, student: It is very unfortunate that the ASUU strike coincided with the one-week compulsory stay-at-home order, which youths now refer to as Igbele. You will discover that by the time the ASSU strike is called off, the cases of pregnancy that will be recorded by female students will be high. However for those who are smart, they would have gone to the cleaners.

Hakeem Bello, pharmacist: From a medical standpoint, due to the burning of used tyres during the protests, the atmosphere has been polluted and people have been plagued with all manner of ailments: cough, catarrh and asthmatic attacks have been on the increase. People have been coming to buy Bronchodilator, also known as inhaler. But the most interesting part of it was that there was high demand for contraceptives popularly known as Postinor one and two and pregnancy strips were  highly demanded by ladies to know if they were loaded or not.

Mrs Kemi Azeez, businesswoman: My joy knew no bound when I heard that the fuel subsidy strike had been suspended. To be sincere, my husband was very hyper sensitive sexually during the strike. It was every now and then, to the point that my children started asking questions, you know how curious little children could be. For the children, they ate more; it was always; ‘mummy, I want this; mummy, I want that’. Thank God it was called off on Monday.

Mrs Omotola Lawal, teacher: If only you knew the effect of the strike on my family, my husband’s stay at home for a whole week, was not a joke. We chatted, gossiped, and visited family friends toge-ther. The most interesting aspect of it which I enjoyed most, was my husband keeping my company in the kitchen while I cooked. Most importantly, it had been long we had sex in the afternoon. We had it almost everyday, in fact, I always looked forward to it. It was sweet and refreshing. How I wished the strike could continue.

Mrs Thelma James, nurse: The strike action, to me, was  an answer to my prayers. My husband as a civil engineer runs his own business, this invariably makes his job very demanding. I’ve always looked for the opportunity to get him to rest, but the strike afforded him the opportunity. He did not just rest, but also fed well and we had the opportunity to talk.

Tolulope Agoro, stylist: I believe the just concluded strike would have served as an eye opener to women whose husbands have been promiscuous. By the time names such as; ‘Chairman’, ‘Senator’, ‘Fela Kuti’, ‘Hurbert Ogunde’ and so on kept propping up on their mobile phones, they would have sensed that there is fire on the mountain. My candid advice for such women is not to be quiet, but unravel the misery behind every strange name that called their spouses during the strike action. A word is enough for the wise.

Mr Idris Omilani, civil servant: It was an opportunity for me to exercise my body. I made sure I trekked to places I would have driven to on a normal day, all in the name of protest. I trekked to my friends’ houses because enjoy being  in the midst of friends, especially to discuss and debate national issues.

Mrs Chidera Akube, banker: One positive thing the nationwide strike did for me was that, it brought about reunion into my family. My husband and children were all around; we all prayed and fellowship together. We cooked, ate  and even played together. These were things we had done a long while due to the complexity of our jobs. It was really a full-house and there was never a dull moment. I think the compulsory stay- at-home  favoured me in a way.

Mr Alex Uje, commentator: I was busy thinking of money. I did not even know that my wife exist, let alone having sex with her. Though I noticed that she made some moves. In the absence of money, there can’t be ‘action’, I could not perform my matrimonial and ‘bedmatic’ responsibility. The fuel subsidy strike went a long way to confirm the fact that without money, the libido is low.