IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON POLITICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA AND THE POLICY RESPONSE BY THE GOVERNMENT

Abstract

Obviously the outbreak of COVID-19 crisis has caused unexpected damage to the global economy. African countries, including Nigeria were not spared. The paper examined the impact of corona virus pandemic on political and socio-economic activities in Nigeria as well as the policy response of the government to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Data for this paper were generated from secondary sources such as journal articles,newspaper publications and official reports from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and World Health Organisation (WHO). Findings revealed that COVID-19 pandemic presented a twin problem of a health and economic shock. In the economic front, Nigerians were affected by the corona virus pandemic, especially through the imposition on restriction of movement (lockdown rules) by the states and federal governments which invariable affected social interaction, political and economic activities. It was also revealed that the lockdown policy measures grinded the Nigerian economy, especially in non-essential sectors that depend on daily activities of income for survival. Thus, the informal sector was badly hit by lockdown policies of the government. Based on the findings, the paper recommended that fiscal policies should be adopted to address the public health emergency situation in Nigeria, those individuals and businesses affected by the lockdown should be empowered and revivedby giving them non interest loan without collateral and Nigerian economy need to bestrengthened by the Federal Government by providing stimulus package targeted tohouseholds, businesses, manufacturers and healthcare providers, and in the long run, a welldiversified and inclusive productive economy policy should be adopted by the government.