Counting the Cost: The Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Households in South East Nigeria

Johnny Ogunji, Stanley Iheanacho, Chinwe Victoria Ogunji, Michael Olaolu, Vivian Oleforuh-Okoleh, Nuria Amaechi, Esther David, Onyekachi Ndukauba, Theophilus Maduabuchukwu Ikegwu, Cresantus Biamba and Delight Chinonyerem
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Johnny Ogunji: Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, 482131 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Stanley Iheanacho: Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, 482131 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Chinwe Victoria Ogunji: Department of Educational Foundations, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, 482131 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Michael Olaolu: Department of Agriculture, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, 482131 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Vivian Oleforuh-Okoleh: Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, 500101 Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
Nuria Amaechi: Department of Food Science and Technology, Abia State University, 441107 Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria
Esther David: Department of Home Economics, Hospitality Management and Tourism, Ebonyi State University, 480001 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Onyekachi Ndukauba: Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, 460001 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Theophilus Maduabuchukwu Ikegwu: Department of Food Science and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, 420211 Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
Cresantus Biamba: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Gävle, SE-801 76 Gävle, Sweden
Delight Chinonyerem: Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, 482131 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 22, 1-13

Abstract: The present study measured household hunger in South-East Nigeria amidst the COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 1209 households (urban and rural locations) were sampled. Household hunger was determined using the Radimer–Cornel hunger scale. Results show that before the COVID-19 lockdown, hunger prevalence in the urban areas was 85.5%, whereas prevalence in the rural areas was significantly lower, at a prevalence of 79.9% (7.3% level of association— X 2 = 6.499, p = 0.012). During the COVID-19 lockdown, the prevalence of hunger in the urban areas rose to 98.0% and 99.2% in the rural areas (4.9% level of association was X 2 = 2.888, p = 0.089). It was also observed that the COVID-19 lockdown significantly affected food prices. The major coping strategy employed by households was relying on less expensive foods (81.14%). High household hunger was identified as a short-term cost of the COVID-19 lockdown in South-East Nigeria. Only a few households (16.3%) benefited from the food aid programs and 16.9% from the government palliative cash transfer. It is recommended that the government setup a formidable unit that will develop physical and digital plans for effective implementation during a COVID-19 lockdown situation or other emergencies.

Keywords: food insecurity; food insufficiency; household hunger; coping strategy; COVID-19; pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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