CIRD-JEESE-20-0506 Final
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Journal of Environment, Earth Sciences and Ecology Vol.02, No.03; July – September-2020 p –ISSN (7304 – 490X); ISSN (2202 – 3011) Impact factor: 0.00 COMPLIANCE WITH COVID-19 PREVENTIVE MEASURES: TOWARDS ACHIEVEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY IN NIGERIA Okafor, Benedicta Njideka Department of Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Abstract: Many countries across the globe, are facing unparalleled challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nigeria and her people are no exception. No economy is spared from the fall-out from COVID-19 outbreak. With the expected reduction in government revenues and an unprecedented rise in the need for a better healthcare system in the country to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, the Federal Government will have to make changes to the infrastructure commitments allocated in the 2020 Budget. The management of the economy, addressing of unemployment, and keeping of commitments to both local and foreign creditors will be a major priority. However, it is encouraging to see that the likes of IMF and World Bank which are multi-lateral agencies have started conversations on debt relief and management system for emerging economies, which will act as a cushion to the impact of the projected recession. Likewise, the impact of COVID-19 on small-medium enterprises are expected to be severe. Hence the need for fiscal measures and policy response aimed at supporting businesses and households to survive the crisis which will in turn promote socio-economic sustainability. Keyword: Compliance with Covid-19, Preventive Measures, Achievement of Environmental, Socio-Economic Sustainability and Nigeria 1. Introduction SARS) a contagious respiratory illness transmitted through The novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was first identified in the eyes, nose, and mouth, via droplets from sneezes and Wuhan China in December 2019 and has rapidly spread to coughs, contaminated surfaces, close or direct contact with almost every region of the world. This disease is caused by infected person. It has an incubation period in the host of a new but severe type of Coronavirus known as approximately one to fourteen days. The symptoms SARSCoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome include cough, dyspnea (shortness of breath) and fever coronavirus 2) (Qian, et al., 2020). It has been established which can be diagnosed through a laboratory test. The that this infection has no immediate treatment or vaccine, contagion could result in severe respiratory problems or and according to World Health Organization (WHO, 2020) death, predominantly among the elderly and persons with it has become a worldwide pandemic causing substantial underlying chronic illnesses. While Some infected persons morbidity and mortality. COVID-19 is from the family of are carriers of the virus and exhibit no symptoms at all, Coronavirus (others include H1N1, MERS, H5N1 and others experience only a few symptoms or mild illness then Journal of Environment, Earth Sciences and Ecology An official Publication of Center for International Research Development Double Blind Peer and Editorial Review International Referred Journal; Globally index Available www.cird.online/JEESE: E-mail: [email protected] pg. 17 Journal of Environment, Earth Sciences and Ecology Vol.02, No.03; July – September-2020 p –ISSN (7304 – 490X); ISSN (2202 – 3011) Impact factor: 0.00 recover easily (Sauer, 2020). Currently, there is no Aim and Objective of the study vaccine, treatment or cure for the COVID-19; medical Aim of the study officials are limited to the use of supportive measures The aim of this study is to ascertain the level of which aid to relieve symptoms and also, use of various Compliance with Covid-19 Preventive Measures: therapeutics and research drugs ( NCDC, 2020) On the Towards Achievement of Environmental and Socio- 27th of February, 2020, an Italian citizen became the first Economic Sustainability in Nigeria. case for COVID-19 in Nigeria (Effiong, et al. 2020) and Objective of the study to stop the spread of the virus, government agencies and The objectives of the study are to; civil societies embarked on enlightenment campaigns on i. To ascertain government fiscal policy toward the importance of social distancing and good hygiene. the achievement of socio-Economic Temperature screening was conducted at airports and those Sustainability with COVID-19 lockdown. returning from countries with a high number of confirmed ii. Examine how the government fiscal policy cases of COVID-19 were implored and encouraged to self- has equip the healthcare system in providing isolate. The NCDC in association with State governments effective response to effect citizens of also began the tracing and tracking of possible COVID-19. victims(host) and those they came in contacts with. iii. Investigate the prevention measure the Statement of the problem government put in place to stop the spread of The rapid spread of corona virus across the world is the Coronavirus (COVID-19). major challenge the entire world is facing. Every country 2. Implementation of Covid-19 Preventive Measures in that has experience corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic Nigeria are all facing economic problem. Nigeria as a nation is In Nigeria, Two tiers of the government (federal and state facing serious economic problem, nothing is moving, governments) began taking proactive steps to curtail the everywhere has been lockdown. No vaccine for the spread of coronavirus (covid-19) throughout the country. treatment of covid-19 at the moment. The poor are more Whilst the number of confirmed cases steadily increased, suffering and the coronavirus keep on spreading, things are lockdown and movement restrictions were established to becoming more difficult. Price of goods and servicing are adequately respond to the outbreak. On the 18th of march, becoming more expensive in the market and many persons 2020, the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with are losing their job. What measure the government is the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), initiated putting in place to stop the spread of coronavirus, to make an Emergency Operations Centre of the highest level. A things easy for the people more specially the poor who are Rapid Response Team was deployed to provide support to suffering the more. What measure the government is the affected States with response activities. Five putting in place to equipped the healthcare system in order laboratories from NCDC’s molecular laboratory system to provide an effective response to those living with covid- with the capability and capacity to test for the virus were 19. This study assesses the Compliance with Covid-19 established. These laboratories were well equipped with Preventive Measures: Towards Achievement of appropraite reagents and adequate supplies needed to begin Environmental and Socio-Economic Sustainability in testing. Nigeria. The Federal Government restricted/banned entry into the country (Nigeria) for travelers from this high incidence countries; China, Italy, Norway, South Korea, Germany, Journal of Environment, Earth Sciences and Ecology An official Publication of Center for International Research Development Double Blind Peer and Editorial Review International Referred Journal; Globally index Available www.cird.online/JEESE: E-mail: [email protected] pg. 18 Journal of Environment, Earth Sciences and Ecology Vol.02, No.03; July – September-2020 p –ISSN (7304 – 490X); ISSN (2202 – 3011) Impact factor: 0.00 Japan, France, Spain, United States of America, workers in Lagos state were exempted as well. The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Switzerland. This President also remarked on the government’s efforts to restriction became effective from the 21st of March 2020 provide and distribute relief materials to states and for an initial testing period of four weeks. Those mentioned communities who will be affected by the lockdown above were the countries with above 1,000 domestic cases restrictions. at the time. Also, The Federal Government suspended the On the 30th of March, 2020, the President signed the on arrival issuing of visa to travelers from these countries “Federal Government’s COVID-19 Regulations of 2020” (Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, 2020) which declared coronavirus (COVID-19) a dangerous, The Nigerian President, on the 29th March, 2020, infectious disease and granted a legal basis to this directive addressed the nation to relay the efforts made by the stated and announced in the President’s address. The government to curb the spread of virus (COVID-19) within Regulations further instituted a moratorium on loans and the country. In his address, he directed a cease of all grants executed through Bank of agriculture, Bank of movements in the Federal capital territory, Lagos State and industry and the Nigeria Export Import Bank. Financial Ogun State for an initial testing period of fourteen (14) and money markets were included in those exempted from days. Although, the lockdown in Ogun State was the lockdown restrictions in order for them to easily run postponed until the 3rd of April 2020, lockdown in Lagos skeletal services needed and allow Nigerian citizens access and Abuja was began on the 30th of March 2020. The and contact to online banking services. Critical staff lockdown was to enable the government to track and stop members of the CBN, the Nigeria Interbank Settlement the spread of COVID-19 within these areas. Citizens in System (NIBSS), payment solution