Sept. 21, 2021

At least 20 per cent of the full-time workforce in Nigeria lost employment during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, a new report released on Tuesday has revealed.

The vast majority of businesses operating in Nigeria suffered due to the pandemic and the subsequent restrictions imposed on businesses to arrest the spread of infections, including lockdowns, restrictions on movement, and other public health measures.

The gravity of lay-offs, reductions in hours of operation, and limited access to credit provide insight into its impact on individuals and families whose ability to maintain their livelihoods and generate
income were severely curtailed. However, the effects were felt unequally by business enterprises across the country that belonged to different sectors with notable differences between formal and informal enterprises.

The report tagged ‘The Impact of COVID-19 on Business Enterprises in Nigeria’, was jointly released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Based on in-depth interviews with almost 3,000 businesses from both formal and informal sectors across major industries of the economy, the report assesses the impact of COVID-19 on business enterprises in the country.

“While there have been promising signs of recovery this year, COVID-19 has had an outsized socio-economic impact on Nigeria,” it said.

“From disruptions in supply chains to ongoing supply and demand shocks and a drop in consumer confidence, these challenges are expected to leave a lasting impact on the businesses and enterprises that make up the backbone of the economy.”

The report also highlighted the significant decline in revenue faced by enterprises and establishments across the country due to the pandemic.

It indicated that 81 per cent of enterprises interviewed, experienced a decline in revenue and 73 per cent stated that they faced liquidity challenges due to secondary impacts of the pandemic in 2020.

Data from the report showed that the median loss in revenue remained at 44 per cent, in comparison to 2019 revenues while about 60 per cent of enterprises surveyed experienced an increase in operational costs, with the price of raw materials and logistics being the top two contributors to the increase.

Other operational challenges included access to credit and capital, high expenditure on utilities, and inadequate social safety net, especially for informal enterprises.

In addition, the report revealed that one in three business enterprises surveyed indicated that some businesses have permanently closed due to operational challenges resulting from the pandemic.

Adjusting To The New Normal
In his remarks, the Statistician-General of the Federation, Dr. Simon Harry, highlighted the importance of the survey results.

“As the economy begins to show signs of gradual growth, this report contains important information that can guide policymakers in their interventions to mitigate the negative socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 in the country,” he said.

“I wish to thank UNDP for collaborating with the National Bureau of Statistics on this important report and I urge other development partners to emulate this worthy endeavour by partnering with the Bureau in matters relating to data generation in the country.

“Although the report findings highlight the complex challenges the economy continues to face because of COVID-19, it also tells a powerful story of innovation, resilience, and strength as Nigerian businesses leverage their ingenuity to adjust to this new normal.”

UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Mohamed Yahya, on his part, said, “As Nigeria mobilises to recover from the devastating health and socio-economic impact of the pandemic, this report will be a critical tool in informing targeted policymaking and programme interventions for both medium and long-term planning as the country rebuilds.”

According to the report, businesses are likely to continue experiencing the impact of the pandemic even after the easing of public health measures.

Despite reduced restrictions at the time of the interviews, 74 per cent of enterprises still reported a decrease in production levels when compared to the same time in 2019.