Household Conflict and COVID-19 Lockdown: Conceptual Reflection from Nigeria

Abstract

This chapter explores the adverse effects of COVID-19 lockdown on Nigerian households and offers suggestions for tackling the household conflicts, which is relevant to the society, and its contributions towards the broad economic activities in Nigeria. It adopts a conceptual approach, relying on extant literature and other relevant materials. The research draws on these references to project a model of the critical effects of COVID-19 faced by Nigerian households during COVID-19 pandemic. The study highlights the fundamental issues responsible for conflict among households in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Also, it unearths learning about the critical sources of household conflict; and explores the effects on households in Nigeria due to the lockdown. Weak enforcement of the provision of extant laws to curb domestic violence in Nigeria and inadequate punishments prescribed in the laws to discourage household conflicts. The chapter concludes with the need for a better legal framework that can regulate household conflicts. It, also, emphasises on increased government effort to intervene in household challenges, especially during an emergent issue such as COVID-19 pandemic. The study also suggested the need for a broad social services structure in Nigeria that can provide social security to households during an unexpected emerging situation such as COVID-19. The Violence Against Persons laws should be stringently enforced to discourage violence, to protect members of every household in Nigeria and to compensate the victims adequately for any loss or injury suffered due to violation of their rights.

Citation

Ufua, D., Olujobi, O.J., Osabohien, R., Odularu, G. and Osabuohien, E. (2022), "Household Conflict and COVID-19 Lockdown: Conceptual Reflection from Nigeria", Osabuohien, E., Odularu, G., Ufua, D. and Osabohien, R. (Ed.) COVID-19 in the African Continent, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 235-246. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-686-620221019