Nigerians Crying for Availability of Electricity and Water: a Key Driver to Life Coping Measures for Deepening Stay at Home Inclusion to Slow COVID-19 Spread

Gift RA, Olalekan RM, Owobi OE, Oluwakemi RM, Anu B, Funmilayo AA (2020). Nigerians crying for availability of electricity and water: a key driver to life coping measures for deepening stay at home inclusion to slow covid-19 spread. Open Access Journal of Science. 2020;4(3):69‒80. DOI: 10.15406/oajs

12 Pages Posted: 28 Jul 2020

See all articles by Raimi Azibaanyam Gift

Raimi Azibaanyam Gift

Federal University Otuoke - Entrepreneurship Development Centre

Morufu Olalekan Raimi

Federal University Otuoke; Niger Delta University (NDU) - Department of Community Medicine

Ochayi Ekoja Owobi

Daughters of Charity Health Care Services of Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital Kubwa - Department of HIV Medicine

Raimi Mariam Oluwakemi

Niger Delta University (NDU) - Department of Banking and Finance

Babatunde Anu

Action against Hunger, Yobe State, Nigeria

Abdulraheem Aishat Funmilayo

Niger Delta University (NDU) - Department of Sociology

Date Written: July 15, 2020

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a tethering on the edge of a make or mar moment in the history of the world as it is chiefly a crisis for health and a tragedy for humanity, but it also poses economic consequences that is far-reaching. In emerging countries like Nigeria, it has already disrupted the livelihoods of millions of individuals, with uneven impact among poor and vulnerable households and small and informal industries and the disruption pace is expected to accelerate the crisis in the coming weeks. No nation or community is exempt; in oil-rich countries such as Nigeria, the challenges of COVID-19 is exacerbated by falling price in crude. The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has raised sundry questions for sectors including water and energy around the world. While workers provide services in a geographic areas, operational and systematic concerns and understandings apply across national borders. This paper draw attention to the importance of electricity and water, sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria especially in areas such as slums, given that many Nigerians live in overcrowded and deprived areas facing major socioeconomic impediments, to these efforts, the important contribution to handwashing is to help reduce disease spread and also highlight the significance of water as an industry that is so critical to the well-being of societies, economies, and the environment and key for the current health crisis. The water and electricity sector should be proactive in doing its part to address COVID-19 pandemic and the ramifications of its spread. As the continent’s leaders take decisive action in the formal, informal and development sectors to save human lives and shield trades, households and geographic economies from the pandemic consequence. Therefore, the responsibility is up to all governments and their development partners to improve health care services and other measures that are critical by providing near constant electricity and water supply for its citizenry to help contribute immensely to social distancing, deepening stay at home, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 both in the short and long run and teaching of public health that is based on systematic evidence to decrease the distress and apprehension caused by distorted and misinformation through social media. In particular, Nigerian government should act swiftly and decisively to provide robust support and not just the rhetoric of stimulus announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria for significant national public health and health care programs, development of medical countermeasure, domestic preparedness programs and response instruments and global cooperationto reduce the virus impacts. Prompt action now is needed to avoid worst case health and economic consequences.

Keywords: COVID-19, electricity, access to water, community engagement, Nigeria

Suggested Citation

Gift, Raimi Azibaanyam and Raimi, Morufu Olalekan and Owobi, Ochayi Ekoja and Oluwakemi, Raimi Mariam and Anu, Babatunde and Funmilayo, Abdulraheem Aishat, Nigerians Crying for Availability of Electricity and Water: a Key Driver to Life Coping Measures for Deepening Stay at Home Inclusion to Slow COVID-19 Spread (July 15, 2020). Gift RA, Olalekan RM, Owobi OE, Oluwakemi RM, Anu B, Funmilayo AA (2020). Nigerians crying for availability of electricity and water: a key driver to life coping measures for deepening stay at home inclusion to slow covid-19 spread. Open Access Journal of Science. 2020;4(3):69‒80. DOI: 10.15406/oajs, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3652441

Raimi Azibaanyam Gift

Federal University Otuoke - Entrepreneurship Development Centre

Otuoke
Nigeria

Morufu Olalekan Raimi (Contact Author)

Federal University Otuoke ( email )

Department of Environmental Management and
Toxicology
Bayelsa
Nigeria

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.growkudos.com/profile/morufu_raimi

Niger Delta University (NDU) - Department of Community Medicine ( email )

Nigeria
07038053786 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Morufu_Raimi

Ochayi Ekoja Owobi

Daughters of Charity Health Care Services of Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital Kubwa - Department of HIV Medicine ( email )

Abuja
Nigeria

Raimi Mariam Oluwakemi

Niger Delta University (NDU) - Department of Banking and Finance

Gloryland Campus
Amassoma
Amassoma, Bayelsa State 560211
Nigeria

Babatunde Anu

Action against Hunger, Yobe State, Nigeria

Nigeria

Abdulraheem Aishat Funmilayo

Niger Delta University (NDU) - Department of Sociology

Amassama
Niger

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