Published Paper Details:

The study aimed to appraise Nigeria�s response to curb the spread of COVID-19 and identify response gaps. The study employed content analysis to evaluate Nigeria�s responses in four major areas covering public health response, physical distancing measures, social protection interventions, fiscal and monetary policy interventions. Several issues and challenges were highlighted which if not resolved may thwart government efforts to curb the spread of the virus disease. It was recommended that the apex bank should inject more funds into the economy especially the facility targeting MSMEs and households who are vulnerable to increase the number that may benefit from the fund to improve their wellbeing and stimulate economic activities. Also, the Nigerian authorities should ensure transparency in the management of COVID-19 cases and funds donated towards the fight against COVID-19 to engender trust and increase access of palliatives to the vulnerable in the country. The government should increase testing capacities and provide sufficient protection to frontline health workers. The use of social workers and non-governmental organization volunteers to support health workers in contact tracing and management of infected patients will help free capacity. The adoption of digital contact tracing to augment the manual contact tracing is advocated especially at this time that the government has started easing lockdown. Collaborating with other stakeholders such as civil society, including community organizations and self-help groups, and the private sector among others, governments can lead the way by developing policies and initiation of sustainable actions to put an end or at least reduce significantly the incidence of the spread and impact of COVID-19 in Nigeria.