Public Distrust in Government and Low Compliance with Policy Measures in Nigeria During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Diagnosis of Pre-Existing Governance Undercurrents

Abstract

Following the discovery of the index case of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria in February 2020, the government instituted policy measures, such as travels restrictions, social distancing, mandatory wearing of face masks, outlawing of large assemblies, among others, to contain the disease. However, the majority of Nigerians distrusted the government amidst response to the pandemic, and thus there was low compliance with the preventive measures, though with catastrophic consequence. Indeed, there was an astronomical rise in the number of the coronavirus infections in nearly all the states in the country, inclusive of Abuja. This paper argues that the triggers of the citizens’ distrust in the Nigerian government and low compliance with its COVID-19 containment policy initiatives that created this unwholesome scenario did not emanate from the pandemic’s context itself, but from pre-existing substantial governance issues in the country. These includes the experiences of the government’s management of previous nationwide emergencies; the problem of bad, irresponsible, and irresponsive political leadership; pervasive corruption and impunity within the government, to name a few. Accordingly, the study concludes by recommending potent strategies for reversing the subsisting trend of public distrust in the government and low adherence to its regulatory policies in future emergencies, including the need for the Nigerian Federal Government to revisit, investigate, and prosecute alleged cases of corruption perpetrated by the officials of relevant government agencies amid response to past national emergencies, among others. The study depends on data obtained from secondary sources and analysed through the qualitative content analysis and thematic methods.