CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ON INDIGENT HOUSEHOLDS IN IBEWA COMMUNITY, ONELGA, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated the socioeconomic impact of coronavirus lockdown
in Ibewa community, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area,Rivers State. The
socio-ecological resilience theory served as the theoretical framework while
the cross-sectional design was used for the study. Both probability (stratified, simple random) and
non-probability (purposive) sampling techniques were used for the sampling
procedures.Quantitative
(questionnaire) and qualitative (Seven focus groups) were used in gathering
primary data. Also, Cronbach Alpha was used tomeasure the reliability of instrument(s). On the basis
of data collection, twenty-two (22) respondents were randomly selected from the
seven (7)household groups that
were already in strata (7×22=154). Data collected for the study were analyzed
with univariate (mean), bivariate (Chi-square) and multivariate
(multinomial/linear logistics regression) statistic(s) with the aid of
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 23.0. Based on analysis, the study
discovered that lockdown led to human right abuse, economic hardship, deviant
behavior amongothers. In view of
these findings, the study recommended that the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian
Affairs Disaster Management and Social Development should design an economic recovery
plan for indigent households. Also, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control
should propose alegislative
framework that will curb price hike of essential commodities during disease
outbreak.