The Nigerian state and the realities of managing COVID-19 pandemic: whither political restructuring and economic diversification?

ABSTRACT

The discovery and the swift rise in the COVID-19 confirmed cases in almost all the countries of the world including Nigeria, is one of the greatest public health challenges that has affected the foundation of the global system in an unprecedented manner. How effective a government responds to public health emergencies is dependent on the state capabilities and capacities, including the existing structures, facilities, available manpower, policy coordination and sustainable finances. This study, therefore, analyzes the effectiveness of state capacity in the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Relying on the operational, fiscal and political components of the state’s capacity, this study argues that the containment measures of the Nigerian state were drastically limited by lack of trust, over-centralization of policy responses and declining revenue occasioned by structural and institutional deficiencies. The study adopted a qualitative approach anchored on the documentary and content analysis methods and ex-post facto research design. Based on the findings, the study renews the call for political restructuring and economic diversification as the desiderata for strengthening the overall capacities of the Nigerian state in managing emergency situations.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19 pandemic
• Nigerian state
• state capacity
• economic diversification
• political restructuring

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kelechi Elijah Nnamani

Kelechi Elijah Nnamani is a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria. He consults for United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) on public procurement and has provided technical support to the UNICEF/DFID/EU WASH intervention programs in Nigeria. He has published in many reputable journals, including Territory, Politics & Governance and Cogent Journal of Social Sciences. His teaching and research interests include: International political economy, neoliberal studies, security, elections, WASH and public procurement. He is a member of the International Political Science Association (IPSA) and Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA).

Ruth Obioma Ngoka

Ruth Obioma Ngoka is a lecturer and PhD student in the Department of Political Science University of Nigeria Nsukka. She has been involved in many collaborative research projects and have contributed and participated in several local and international academic conferences. Ruth has a special focus in International relations, gender and developmental Studies. She is currently an education activist under the SpeakUp StandOut (SUSO) program facilitated by Nigeria Youth SDG’s, Africa Youth Movement, Center for Youth Advocacy and Development and Voice Nigeria.

Kanayochukwu Michael Okoye

Kanayochukwu Michael Okoye holds a doctorate from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he lectures in Department of Religion and Cultural Studies cum Humanities Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Educated in New Testament studies, theology and hermeneutics, Dr. Okoye’s primary field of research concerns Christology, Early Christianity and development of the Church, Christian identities and culture and biblical exegesis and contextualization. His approach to these fields involves research into sociology of religion, psychology of religion, political, and textual exegesis.

Hyacinth Ude Nwoke

Hyacinth Ude Nwoke holds a Ph.D in Comparative Politics from the University of Lagos and lectures currently in the Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His areas of research interest include Comparative politics, governance, and African politics.