Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic on Households’ Livelihood: Empirical Evidence from Sokoto State, North Western Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic on households’ livelihood in Sokoto State, Nigeria using a survey dataset for a sample of two hundred and seventeen (217). The study applied mean and standard deviation in analyzing the data and finding suggests that covid-19 has negatively has negatively affected the household’s livelihood in terms of food security, market accessibility, and income generation activities and women and youths empowerment. The study further revealed that the pandemic put on negative influence on social activities of the households such as children education, social structure and gender relations. Furthermore, the study concludes that, covid-19 has negative effects on cultural activities of the households such as community events, funeral activities, ceremonies, sports activities and cultural values. In addition to covid-19 pandemic, this study also indicated that psychological behaviour of household such as sustainable behavior, uncertainty; infections fears and family relations were negatively affected. From the foregoing, this study recommends the needs for the government to create a window in fiscal policy that will accommodate any unforeseen health challenges in the future. Based on the previous experience, the study further recommends the urgent need for the households to be on alert on the future pandemic Abstract This study investigates the impact of coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic on households’ livelihood in Sokoto State, Nigeria using a survey dataset for a sample of two hundred and seventeen (217). The study applied mean and standard deviation in analyzing the data and finding suggests that covid-19 has negatively has negatively affected the household’s livelihood in terms of food security, market accessibility, and income generation activities and women and youths empowerment. The study further revealed that the pandemic put on negative influence on social activities of the households such as children education, social structure and gender relations. Furthermore, the study concludes that, covid-19 has negative effects on cultural activities of the households such as community events, funeral activities, ceremonies, sports activities and cultural values. In addition to covid-19 pandemic, this study also indicated that psychological behaviour of household such as sustainable behavior, uncertainty; infections fears and family relations were negatively affected. From the foregoing, this study recommends the needs for the government to create a window in fiscal policy that will accommodate any unforeseen health challenges in the future. Based on the previous experience, the study further recommends the need for the households to be on alert on the future pandemic and take precautions measures that would prevent the deterioration of socio-cultural activities and psychological behaviour.