The Impact of COVID19 on Human Security in Nigeria

Academic Paper from the year 2020 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: Peace and Conflict Studies, Security, grade: A, , course: Political Science & International Relations, language: English, abstract: The outbreak of Corona Virus Disease (COVID) 2019 in Wuhan China and its spread across 213 countries and territories around world has profoundly impacted humanity and global economy. This paper explored the impact of COVID 19 on human security in Nigeria in order to proffer some strategies to mitigate the negative consequences on the people. Nigeria had her COVID 19 index case in February 2020 and since then more than 50,000 Nigerians have tested positive to the disease and about 1000 deaths have been recorded with new cases being recorded daily.

Materials and Methods:The paper used secondary sources of data collected from published and unpublished materials. The collected data were analysed qualitatively using logical deduction supported by human security theory.

Results:It was revealed that COVID 19 complicated human insecurity already in existence in Nigeria by exacerbating conflict and poverty in the country. It also worsens food insecurity in millions of homes and economic security of Nigerians who were prevented from moving about ekeing out a living. The World Bank projected that five million Nigerians would be pushed into poverty due to COVID 19. The pandemic threatened the safety of the people from such chronic threats as hunger, disease and repression and there were hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life due to the measures imposed by the Federal Government of Nigeria to mitigated COVID 19 such as lockdown, isolation and quarantine. Furthermore, COVID 19 in Nigeria also exposed the poor state of infrastructure such as potable water, electricity, decent housing and markets in the country Some of the strategies to curb the impact would include institutionalization of disease early warning systems in all the 774 local government areas in Nigeria. It is also important for government to ensure that the citizens of Nigeria buy into whatever effort is being made and the urgent need to alleviate poverty through social safety nets and sound economic policy. The FGN should support and encourage local alternative medicines that could be integrated into orthodox medicine to mitigate epidemics and pandemics in the country. Mobilize domestic resources for health systems and the elimination of high-burden diseases, prevention and management of diseases outbreaks in Nigeria

Conclusion: It is the submission of the paper that human security has been undermined in Nigeria as a result of COVID 19.