The Humanities and Covid-19: History, Politics and the Burden of Coronavirus Pandemic in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examines prevailing manifestations of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria. The article explains that exploration of historical experiences will help African States, of which Nigeria is an integral part, to master the past, present and the future as a means of handling the problems of COVID-19 Pandemic. The paper throws some light on the meaning, nature types, causes and spread of coronavirus. The essay highlights some of the challenges, effects and the measures to control the deadly diseases. For instance, weak heath system as evidenced by an insufficient number of health workforce, poor infrastructures, inadequacy of drugs and equipment are issues of great concern that are experienced in this period of ravaging coronavirus pandemic. The study also demonstrates that historical analysis of COVID 19 underscores some level of politicking with the disease. Conspiracy theory was used to explain the COVID-19 pandemic and its significance to the work. The methodology deployed in the study is analytical, relying principally, on observation, interviews and other historical sources on private and public libraries in Nigeria. Finally, the study establishes that history occupies a significant space in the management and control of a pandemic condition like coronavirus and recommends that the federal government should intensify efforts on the prevention and control COVID-19 by adhering to the tenets of history.