CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19), LOCKDOWN AND WELL-BEING: VIEWS AND COUNTER VIEWS IN THE STREETS OF TANKE-BUBU, ILORIN, NIGERIA

G.T. Ijaiya*¹, R, A. Bello¹, M.A. Ijaiya² & T.A. Ijaiya³

¹Department of Economics, University Of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
²Resident Doctor, Department Of Epidemiology and Community Health, University Of Ilorin Teaching
Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria
³Reaserch Assistant and Postgraduate Student, Department Of Political Science, University Of Ibadan, Nigeria

*Correspondence author’s email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The emergence of COVID-19 from China, its spread, and catastrophic impacts given the number of infected persons and the resultant deaths, coupled with measures of restrictive movements and lockdowns has affected the livelihood of the people of Nigeria. Given this situation, this study, therefore, examined the views and counter views of a selected number of people living in Tanke-Bubu, Ilorin on their understanding of COVID-19 and the socio-economic impact of the lockdown and restrictive movements due to the virus to their well-being, using a set of household data generated using a structured interview and questionnaire formats and qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis. Results obtained from the analysis indicate that those residents within the age bracket between 31 – 40 years dominate the community, most of the residents are engaged in the informal sector activities. COVID-19 has affected the income earnings of the people given the fall in demand for goods contrary to earnings before COVID-19. Most residents had no idea of what the disease is all about, however with the government's awareness campaign, reported cases of infections and deaths from COVID-19 and the consequences of the lockdown awareness have improved. The consequences of the lockdown include among others; decline in income (wage reductions and stoppages by business owners), a decline in savings, decline in investment, decline in consumption of essential goods and services, hunger, poverty, insecurity (cases of a thief), job losses, unemployment (no company is employing for now), work stoppages/suspension, increase in the price of goods and services, closure of factories and businesses, disruption of academic activities and increase in household debt (from foods, house rents and loans from money lenders and cooperatives). To address the impact of the lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, the study suggests among other measures continuous awareness campaigns and information on the danger of infection and prevention measures(washing and sanitization of hands, use of mask, keeping social/physical distancing, staying at home), distribution of palliatives to include the use of Community Development Associations and Trade Associations at polling booths units at local government ward levels, the involvement of rich individuals, Non-Government Organisations and FaithBased Organisations to complement government efforts in the provision/distribution of palliatives to the core poor and vulnerable ones in the community and an urgent manufacturing of drugs and vaccines for the treatment of COVID-19

Key Words: COVID-19, Well-Being, Lockdown. Perception, Tanke-Bubu-Ilorin, Nigeria

CORONA VIRUS (COVID-19), LOCKDOWN AND WELL-BEING: VIEWS AND COUNTER VIEWS IN THE...