Impacts of Covid-19 on Socio-Economic Characteristics of Households in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

One of the pandemics that affected the entire world in recent times is the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on socio-economic activities is ruinous and can even be more cataclysmic when COVID-19 combines with other existing social and economic challenges in any society. The purpose of the study is to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on households' socio-economic activities in Kano, Nigeria. A location that is already facing severe challenges in terms of high poverty rate, unemployment, and other social and economic difficulties.The study used a primary source of data, collected among a sample of 426 respondents that constitute household heads drawn from the three (3) regions in Kano using stratification method involving four stages. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data collected from the respondents. Findings revealed that COVID-19 pandemic had significant negative impacts on socio-economic activities of the households in Kano. The finding indicates that a large number of household’s respondents have divergent views of whether COVID-19 is real or fake, despite a broader awareness concerning the virus and preventive measures against the virus. COVID-19 pandemic has exposed government effort in the healthcare system in the study area. Besides government measures related to socio-economic to assist poorest in society that suffered from the loss of income during the imposed lockdown through palliative has been marred with a lot of irregularities.