ASSESSMENT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG THE RESIDENTS OF GWAGWALADA, FCT ABUJA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Purpose: The emergence of COVID-19 and the measures put in place to curtail the spread of the virus and the perceived hardship imposed on people prompted this study with the view to assess the level of awareness of COVID-19 pandemic among the residents of Gwagwalada, examine the level of their access to basic health, social facilities and identify needs and level of support they received during COVID-19 lockdown.

Methodology: A cross section survey research was employed and a stratified random sampling was employed in the selection of the respondents. Krejcie & Morgan, (1970) model was use in determining the sample size, a sample of 373 respondents out of 22308 population was selected and used for this study. The first respondent was selected at random and the subsequent ones systematically. The selected people were served with the questionnaire. The information collected were analyzed and the results were presented in tables and percentages.

Findings: The results showed that majority of the respondents are within the ages of 30-39yrs which constituted 38.6%. It showed that 55.4% of the respondents are married, 61% had tertiary education, 53.7% was farmers, and 18.3% was civil servants. The average monthly income of the respondents was between N18.000-N35, 000, results showed that 99% was aware of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 39% of them knew the symptoms of COVID-19 as cough, fever, tiredness, sore throat, and difficulty in breathing. Their sources of information include rumors (79%), social networks (70%), and TV/Radio jingles (75%). The lockdown affected the social and economic activities of the people such as education, family interaction, their leisure, security among others. Economic effects such as poverty, loss of job, closure of small and medium scale businesses among others. About 87% of the respondents indicated that they never received any assistance/support during the lockdown. As a coping strategies, the respondents sold their assets, reduce their rate of consumption, play games, accepted low wages etcetera and the youths went into protest which lead to looting COVID-19 warehouses in the study area in search of palliatives. The study recommends among others, prompt economy recovery plans in terms of expanded palliatives, social security safety nets and stimulus to residents and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs).