Covid-19 Pandemic, Violence and Social Inequality in Nigeria.
The measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 and prevent loss of lives across the globe include; lockdown of schools, religious worship centres, business centres, and a general restriction of movement of the people. The lockdown, which involuntarily confined people to different places of abode has numerous effects on the individuals and the society. This paper seeks to examine how COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated violence and social inequality in Nigeria and attempts possible solutions to the problem. The methodology includes the review of literature and reports. The findings show that, the lockdown has resulted in heightened levels of gender-related domestic violence and social inequality in the society. The closure of all educational institutions has left many young people idle. Some of these youths have ended upengaging inimmoral sexual activities with the opposite sex. Children also suffered molestation and harassment from predators. Newspaper reports revealan increasein cases of rape in the society during this period. The lockdown has caused job losses and salary cut which have translated into a reduction in government, private companies and individuals’ revenue. This situation affected many families negatively as it led to financial hardship in homes and increased misunderstandings and various forms of negative tensions and domestic violence in the society. Spousal violence, landlord-tenant violence, house-owner and house-help violence, violence on widows, boyfriend- girlfriend violence is now more commonplace in the society. Even though it is undeniable that gender-based violence had existed before the pandemic, the malaise has been greatly aggravated by this deadly disease.