Reflections on How the Nigerian Government Has Managed the Covid-19 Crisis

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper evaluates the efforts of government in fighting the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria. The paper examines the government’s rapid response measures to contain the virus within the initial months of its manifestation in Nigeria, as well as the various steps taken by the government to combat the spread of the disease, and consequently redress its impact on the economy. The paper argues that the greatest challenge that Nigeria has faced in managing the Covid-19 crisis is the weak capacity of its health sector, which is partly a reflection of the wider problem of poor institutional and governance capacity of the state. A durable revamp and fixing of the health sector, the paper argues, will require a comprehensive and proactive governance approach that will simultaneously address the overlapping challenges of economic, political, and social sector securities for the Nigerian populace.