Political and Socio-economic Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Developing Countries: The Case of Nigeria
The paper examines the political and socio-economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on developing countries, taking Nigeria as a case study. It adopts an exploratory research design, and the qualitative method, relying on secondary data and document analysis. Findings show that the COVID-19 pandemic has had negative and positive implications for developing countries. On a negative note, it has seen to the disruption in economic activities, resulting in sharp decline in government revenue, loss of jobs, household food insecurity, and fallen crude oil prices; and disruptions in the democratic and political process, midwifing new circumstances for electoral process, low citizen participation, and controversies over tenure of incumbent governments. Positively, the pandemic has opened new opportunities for the deployment of technologies for political activities; exposed the weakness in the economy and health system of developing countries; and exposed the risk of over-dependence on crude oil. The paper concludes that the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 outbreak must be taken seriously, and necessary adjustments should be made in order to be prepared for future endemics, epidemics, and pandemics.
