Population data and resource allocation in Nigeria: Evidences from the challenges of distributing COVID-19 palliatives

Abstract

This study draw evidence from the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives in Nigeria to examine the vitality of population data in resource allocation in Nigeria. The social ecological model of Bronfenbrenner was adopted in this study on the tenets that an individual’s development is influenced by a series of interconnected environmental systems. In-depth interview was adopted to collect data from sixty respondents: Academic staff [N = 15] from three federal Universities in the South-Eastern Nigeria, Palliative Distribution Officials [N = 15], and Residents of the Southeast Region [N = 30]. Thematic analytic method was employed. The findings of the study show that population data in Nigeria is problematic. Most population data in Nigeria are not complete and reliable. This results from the negative attitude of the people and the manipulation of population data for political gains. It was found that it was difficult for the government to utilise the available population data in the distribution of Covid-19 palliatives. Thus, Nigerians did not feel the desired impact of Covid-19 palliatives as most of the people that were supposed to get the palliatives were systematically omitted. We recommend that distribution of social welfare packages can only make a reasonable impact when there is reliable population data.