EFFECTS OF THE CONTROL MEASURES AGAINST THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON NIGERIANS

Abstract

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa is experiencing a new economic and social reality as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first case of Coronavirus infection in Nigeria was recorded on February 28, 2020. The country subsequently recorded more than 50,000 cases and about 1, 000 COVID-19 related deaths. Cases continued to increase until the scientific community discovered and ensured a global attempt to provide a cure for the virus. The spread of the disease (coronavirus) across the globe had led to the lockdown of many countries’ socio-economic and political activities while millions of people suffered and still suffer from the negative impacts. However, Nigeria was among the nations in sub-Saharan Africa to have recorded COVID-19 cases at its earliest stage leading to the implementation of stringent measures to prevent the further the spread of the virus. This paper examines the effect of the control measures to control the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria and utilized secondary sources to gather its data. Some of the effects of the spread of the virus included the drop in the global oil price by 60%, increased poverty, job losses, indoor crimes and a host of others. While the control measures put in place by the government were laudable on the one hand, it also enveloped a lot of Nigerians in extreme poverty and hunger. Many people lost their lives not just as a result of the illness associated with coronavirus infection but also with hunger and starvation due to the lockdown policy as a control measure imposed on the people. The paper recommends among others that, Nigerians should be sensitized on how to live with the virus as it has no known permanent cure at the moment.