State Fragility and Covid-19 pandemic: Implications on the political economy of Nigeria

• Main Authors: C.G. Chidume, C.N. Oko-Otu, G.C. Aro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-01-01
• Series: Social Sciences and Humanities Open
• Subjects: Covid-19; Nigeria; Political economy; State fragility
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291121000231

The outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has seriously impacted negatively on the socio-economic and political activities in the international system. The pandemic has exposed the leadership capacities and health investments cum preparedness of countries across the globe. This paper studies the reactions and responses of nations in containing the deadly virus and observes that while Western nations react rapidly and more proactively, African nations seem to be caught in a web of religious prevarications and State fragility which has impugned on the efforts of States in containing the virus. The paper argues that the Nigerian government’s response so far in containing the virus is indicative of State fragility and that the prevailing perception of the virus as eschatological and nihilistic among the citizens, especially the very religious ones, may further obfuscate and mar government’s efforts in containing the virus. The paper will show how the government’s approach engenders a dire socioeconomic complication which may have more disastrous effects on the political economy of post Covid-19 Nigeria and suggested ways forward.