Food Science & Nutrition Technology
ISSN: 2574-2701
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The Impact of Covid-19 on Food Security in a Developing Country:
Nigeria
Ogbonna AI1*, Ogbonna KN2, Ogbonna USA3 and Ogbonna CIC1
Review Article
1
Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Jos, Nigeria
Volume 5 Issue 4
2
Department of Criminology and Security Studies, University of Jos, Nigeria
Received Date: August 01, 2019
3
Department of Applied Microbiology & Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
Published Date: August 20, 2020
DOI: 10.23880/fsnt-16000223
*Corresponding author: Ogbonna AI, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology,
University of Jos, Nigeria, Tel: +2348033555188; Email:
[email protected] Abstract
SARS-CoV2 is a novel Coronavirus identified as the cause of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that originated in Wuhan,
China in late 2019 and spread worldwide. The virus causes severe respiratory infection and is zoonotic; SARS-CoV2 is
transmitted person-to-person through aerosols and droplets from infected persons. The outbreak was declared a Public
Health Emergency of International dimension on 30 January 2020. By March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO)
had declared the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. Till date, a functional vaccine is yet to be found
for the disease. A series of containment measures have been implemented by various Governments such as social distancing,
regular washing of hands with soap under running water, use of nose masks especially in public places, use of hand sanitizers,
border closures and finally a total lockdown in many Cities Worldwide. The disease outbreak has had severe impact on both
the social life and the economic well-being of many countries. The pandemic has resulted in very serious food crises in many
Developing Countries as farmers no longer produce and there is a total restriction in the movement of food products as a result
of the lockdown. More people are dying of hunger than COVID-19. The real impact of post- COVID-19 might be very difficult
to assess as no one can predict the end of the pandemic. However, the economies of many Developing Countries are likely to
crash and there is likely to be famine in such Countries. It is most unlikely that Developed Countries can give readily helping
hands as they are going to be faced with their own individual Social and Economic problems.
Keywords: Coronavirus; Zoonotic; SARS-Cov2; Wuhan; WHO, Disease; Developing Countries Public Health
Introduction in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and is now of international
dimension. The outbreak was declared a Public Health
Coronaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses that cause Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020 and
respiratory illnesses of varying severity from the common by March 11, 2020, it had been declared a global pandemic
cold to fatal pneumonia. They included (SARS-CoV) by same WHO [1].
identified in 2003 as the cause of Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) and MERS-CoV which was identified in Early COVID-19 cases were linked to a live animal market
2012 as the cause of Middle East respiratory syndrome in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, which suggested that the
(MERS). COVID-19 is an acute, sometimes severe, respiratory virus was initially transmitted from animals to humans
illness caused by a novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV2 that began [2]. Person-to-person spread occurs through contact with
The Impact of Covid-19 on Food Security in a Developing Country: Nigeria Food Sci & Nutri Tech
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Food Science & Nutrition Technology
infected secretions, mainly via contact with large respiratory and Acute Cardiac injury, Coagulation disorders including
droplets from infected persons. Infection could also take place Thromboembolism and Pulmonary Emboli. There could be
through contact with contaminated surfaces. Researchers are Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), Hemorrhage,
still assessing the real mechanism of spread of this disease and Arterial clot formation. The disease could be associated
from person to person. It is known that symptomatic, as well with Guillain-Barré syndrome (rare), Sepsis, Shock, and
as asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients can transmit Multi-organ failure. Severe disease could be characterized
the virus. The virus appears more transmissible than SARS- by Dyspnea, Hypoxia, and extensive lung involvement on
CoV. imaging. Such can progress to respiratory failure requiring
mechanical ventilation, shock, multi organ failure and death.
High-spreaders played an extraordinary role in driving A rare Post-infectious inflammatory syndrome termed
the 2003 SARS outbreak and may also play a significant pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome (PMIS or
role in the current COVID-19 outbreak. A high-spreader is MIS-C) has been observed as a rare complication of SARS-
an individual who transmits an infection to a significantly CoV-2 infection in children. It is not yet well characterized
greater number of other persons. Persons with minimal or but has features similar to Kawasaki disease or toxic shock
no symptoms may also be able to transmit the disease, thus syndrome.
making it difficult in terms of management of the outbreak.
The incubation period of the disease ranges from 2 to 14
Environments with high risk of transmission include days after exposure to the virus. Majority of infected people
Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Long-term Care-establishments, are asymptomatic. The risk of serious disease and death in
Prisons, and Large gatherings, Beaches, City Centres, Big COVID-19 cases increases with age and in people with other
Open-markets, Motor Parks and On Board Ships. Such serious medical disorders such as heart, lung, kidney, or liver
Environments have high population densities where it is disease, diabetes, immune-compromised conditions and
often very difficult to enforce precautionary measures. severe obesity.
Menon reported that, there are a total of 2, 476,916 The Effects of COVID-19 on Food Systems
cases of COVID-19 with about 170, 297 deaths in 185
countries. The authors also reported that the health-care
and Nutrition in Nigeria
systems throughout the World have been over-stretched to COVID-19 has led to disruptions in domestic food supply
unimaginable levels as the health workers toil to contain chains apart from other shocks that have been affecting
the epidemic under significant personal risks. Quarantine food production. Income losses and inabilities of various
and isolation measures are being applied in an attempt to Governments, Corporations, Agencies, Firms and other
limit the Local, Regional, and Global spread of this outbreak. Industrial Establishments to pay monthly salaries have
Strict adherences to these measures have been successful at further complicated issues for income-earners in terms of
controlling the spread of the infections and deaths from the food security. World Health Organization [1] reported that
pandemic. Other measures including closure of Businesses, Labour shortages due to morbidity, movement restrictions
Working from homes and stay at home restrictions and and social distancing rules are starting to impact on food
even domestic travel restrictions have in certain cases led producers, food processors, food merchants and things are
to family separations. The disease pandemic has resulted rather at a stand-still. Food Companies that are involved in
in income reductions, non-salary payments and increased food haulage chains can no longer operate. This is because
unemployment. People have found it very difficult obtaining the workers needed for both the loading and off-loading
basic amenities including food and drugs, the food products are no longer available because of the
lockdown. These factors have led to the sky-rocketing of the
Symptoms and Signs prices of the scarce food and food products available. Farmers
can no longer go to their farms especially where such farms
People with COVID-19 may be symptomatic or are far away from their residential homes. Such has therefore
asymptomatic and some of them can suffer from very Severe impacted on the food security of the people. This has further
Respiratory and other illnesses. Symptoms range from Fever, influenced the food production chain and its attendant
Cough and Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, distribution network thereby leading to instability in both
Repeated Shaking with Chills, Fatigue, Sore throat, Nausea, local and global markets [3]. The lowest income-earners in
Vomiting, Diarrhea and Loss of Smell or Taste. The Respiratory Developing Countries are the most hit in the process. The
Diseases can progress to acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome absence of farmers from their farmlands has made robbers
(ARDS) and Death. Other serious complications may involve: have a field day and this in fact has worsened the issue of the
Heart disorders including Arrhythmias, Cardiomyopathy, said food security.
Ogbonna AI, et al. The Impact of Covid-19 on Food Security in a Developing Country: Nigeria. Food Copyright© Ogbonna AI, et al.
Sci & Nutri Tech 2020, 5(4): 000223.
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Food Science & Nutrition Technology
Changes in Eating Habits Conclusion
From a nutritional point of view, the COVID-19 pandemic There is no Inter-State movements of people and the
has had implications for Developing Countries like Nigeria in transportation of foods from one State to another is restricted
terms of food habit changes. Even before the pandemic, such and such factors have therefore led to price increases and
Countries had had most of their Nationals suffering from the food items are no longer within the reach of an ordinary man.
multiple burden of malnutrition. Most of the Nationals were There are little or no Government palliatives to alleviate the
subjected to micronutrient deficiencies. The determinants people’s hardships.
of this multiple burden are complex and likely to be further
compounded by the pandemic. Widespread poverty, The short-term and long-term effects of COVID-19
unemployment and low education have negatively impacted pandemic on food security and food systems in general cannot
on house-holds food securities. As a result of the lockdown, be over-emphasized. As the situation evolves, it presents new
the eating habits of so many people in Developing Countries challenges. The farmers’ inability to produce and distribute
like Nigeria have changed. Many people have little money their farm products has resulted in the insufficiency of
to eat more than twice a day. Many women stay hungry and nutrient rich foods in the markets. COVID-19 is expected
pretend that they want to become slim. According to a recent to impact negatively on food availability and even peoples’
survey, 26 % of women in Nigeria claim that they are on diet access to fresh and perishable foods such as tomatoes,
and that is why they eat once or twice a day. However, this is vegetables, pepper, onions and fresh fruits. Presently, the
not true. Most of these women are either cashless or have no rainy season is here but owing to Border Closures and Cities
money for purchasing food. Lockdowns, Agricultural activities are in the down trend and
this in turn will affect Agricultural productivity and hence
Some men who are financially handicapped have taken food availability. Fertilizers cannot reach the farmers since
to alcoholism in order to forget about their sorrows. Many there are restrictions both in human and goods traffic. There
of them have become victims of liver lesions as their daily is a serious danger of famine in Developing countries ahead
consumption of alcohol reach a level of 60 g pure ethanol. and there can be little or no help from Developed countries as
The level at which impairment of intellectual faculties occur they have their own individual problems. The Post-COVID-19
is lower than that for liver disorders. period is indeed going to be a very tough one for Developing
Countries.
Good nutrition is critical for the functioning of humans’
immune system and protection against diseases such as Recommendations
COVID-19. The WHO guidance on diet in the context of the
current pandemic outlines that “good nutrition is important 1. The Government should allow the free movement of raw
for health, particularly in times when the immune system materials and manufactured goods provided the people
may need to fight back”. Diet and attitude to food may have involved meet up with the Stay Safe requirement of
a role in the etiology of some cancers. Epidemiologists have COVID-19.
already noted that incidence of cancers varied within human 2. The Government should find a way of providing
groups and that the variations in their frequency were seen palliatives to at least the lowest income earners as a
to be as a result of changes in diet [4]. While more data means of reducing their sufferings.
needs to be gathered on the role of nutrition on the severity 3. The Government should ensure that the commonly
of COVID-19, the role of micronutrients in the optimal available foods are well fortified with vitamins and
function of immune systems is well established. Quantitative essential food minerals so that the people do not suffer
nutritional needs of the people cannot be met neither can the from malnutrition.
people satisfy the qualitative nature of their foods. People eat 4. The Government should improve on their food storage
whatever they can lay hands on in terms of food in order to facilities and encourage the setting up of strategic food
keep body and soul together. Some children whose parents reserves for use in terms of emergencies like COVID-19
are unable to feed have resorted to feeding from domestic pandemic.
waste dumps. The protein content of foods is very low and
many Nationals cannot afford to buy meat [5-13]. References
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Sci & Nutri Tech 2020, 5(4): 000223.
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