The Impact of Covid-19 on Economic Conditions of the Poor in Rural Communities in Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Since the outbreak of the deadly and contagious corona virus pandemic in December, 2019, Nigerians and citizens all over the world have continued to grapple with the negative outcomes associated with the virus.  In Nigeria, the government's slow response to the needs of the people and many more issues gave rise to the present study and the study sought to assess the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The study followed a Qualitative research Model and adopted an explorative research design, interviews were also conducted on petty traders, food vendors, road side hawkers, transporters, small and medium scale businesses, and some other person who were affected by the lockdown policy. Findings from the study revealed that citizens from the lower economic status and rural dwellers were badly affected by the stay-at-home policy as their only means of livelihood were cut short abruptly.  It was recommended that government should provide palliative to the poor with all the basic necessities of life, be responsible to citizens and control the cost of food in the market and finally, government should be transparent, responsive and shun corruption.  All these will go a long way in cushioning the effects of the pandemic.