Covid-19 in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja: A Critical Sociological Analysis of Socio-Cultural, Economic and Spiritual Inhibitions to Non-Compliance and Social Control in Gwagwalada Area Council

Abstract

This research is a critical and sociological analysis of socio-cultural, economic and spiritual inhibitions to noncompliance and social control of the spread of COVID-19 in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. A sample of 60 respondents residing in Gwagwalada was drawn cutting across all strata of the population. Questionnaire and in-depth interviews were used as major instruments of gathering primary data from the respondents while secondary data was sourced from journals, books, reports, articles, speeches and online documents. Two theories, the World System and Dependency Theories were used to explain COVID-19 in Gwagwalada. Findings suggest that the lockdown, social distancing, hand-washing, and wearing of masks measures introduced by the government to curb the rising trends of COVID-19 negates the socio-cultural, economic and spiritual obligations of the people. This hitherto has affected their daily means of livelihood, their need for congregational prayers as spiritual obligations in groups and attendance of culturally based ceremonies like burials, marriages, naming and other ceremonies in groups amongst others, which have culminated in their non-compliance with government directives and measures put in place to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. The study recommends that government needs to show more commitment to its promises of distribution of palliatives and should be transparent in its reports on Coronavirus with concrete evidence of images of the people infected by the virus to further convince the citizens that it is not coloured with scam or a money-making venture.