LACK OF ADEQUATE CITIZENS’ INFORMATION AND THE CHALLENGE OF RESPONDING TO COVID 19 PANDEMIC IN NIGERIA

Abstract

A country’s ability to respond adequately to any unexpected circumstance depends to a large extent on its preparedness. These can be seen in the policies, programs and plans put in place by such a nation. As such, a good planning remains the bedrock of every success. Covid-19, a novel disease which started in China took the world by surprise. The nature of its transmission coupled with the fact that it had not any known cure puts pressure on countries to devise means of curbing its spread. One of such measures was a total or partial lockdown which resulted in various forms of economic hardships. Apart from the lockdown, another most effective means of curtailing the spread of Covid 19 was tracing those who may have had contact with the infected persons. Therefore, whether to ameliorate the negative impacts of Covid 19 on the citizens through adequate social services or curtail the spread of Covid 19 by tracing those who may have had contact with the infected persons, adequate citizens’ information remains a sine qua non. This paper examines the negative consequences lack of adequate citizens’ information has had on Nigeria’s response to Covid 19 pandemic and suggests possible remedies. Basing arguments on information mostly from already published articles and print media, the paper’s position is that due to lack of adequate information of her citizens, the management of Covid 19 in Nigeria resulted in a situation where the search for a solution became worse than the problem itself. This conclusion is informed by the fact that Covid 19 lockdown was poorly managed resulting in hunger, loss of job, a drastic decline in noncovid-19 ailment consultation in hospitals and many dead of patients with treatable sicknesses since they could not have access to medical facilities due to lockdown. Palliatives said to be distributed by the Nigerian government to alleviate the pains occasioned by the pandemic ended up enriching a few in the corridors of power and their cronies since there was and still is no information on who got what. Contact tracing of persons who may have come in contact with the infected was a herculean task due to lack of information and documentations of Nigerians.