PUBLICATIONS

This paper seeks to demonstrate the possible socio-economic repercussions of the pandemic to the continent and proposes amongst others that, African countries should prioritise cheaper solutions in the fight against the COVID-19 given the acute financial constraints burden by these countries before the outbreak of the pandemic. Also, it is recommended that African countries reinforce the inter-continental trade agreement such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) which could increase intra-African trade by 15 to 25% higher by 2040. And lastly the paper draws attention to the need for good governance and leadership in adequately fighting the harmful effects of the pandemic. To fight the pandemic, governments are taking a series of important decisions and allocating enormous sums of money in the procurement of medical equipment and supplies or direct state aid to businesses to boost the economy. High-value contracts are also swiftly and discreetly being assigned and dizzying sums of relief and recovery money are being infused in the economy on a fast-track basis. It is crucial for the government to remain vigilant and invest significant efforts to ensure that this money is used appropriately, and that unscrupulous actors do not take advantage of the crisis to enrich themselves at the expense of the public.

The agricultural sector is important to the Nigerian economy, not only because it employs so many Nigerians, but also because Nigerian policy has recently shifted towards agricultural protectionism. The short-term effects on food security and production are unsurprising in the context of a globalized economy built around comparative advantage. Domestic farmers tasked with filling the sudden gap between supply and demand will need to implement yield-improving techniques to succeed. Nigerian policymakers must apply successful models of agricultural development that improve efficiency at an affordable cost. I propose that equipment sharing services and subsidies for equipment leasing enterprises would most effectively accomplish this goal.