AN ASSESSMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS DURING COVID-19 LOCKDOWN IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper reviewed the various intervention programmes of the Nigerian government aimed at mitigating the effects of the lockdown of the nation occasioned by coronavirus (COVID–19) pandemic. The Federal Government at the onset imposed targeted lockdown on Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Also, most states of the country were lockdown. To alleviate the suffering of the people, the Federal Government of Nigeria rolled out some forms of support known as palliatives for targeted group mainly the poorest poor and the vulnerables. The paper draws on a desk–based review of secondary relevant literature on the different intervention programmes of the government in this regards in Nigeria. The article finds out that complaints and lamentations have trailed the distribution of these palliatives which, ordinarily, were not meant to lift the citizens out of poverty. Nigerians alleged that, the distribution procedures were politicized. The paper recommended that to avoid such tardiness and awkwardness in such exercise in the future, the need for strong institutions and clear–cut framework cannot be overemphasized.