Covid-19 Pandemic and Performance of SMES in South-South Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the effect of Covid-19 Pandemic and Performance of small and medium enterprises in South-South, Nigeria. The study investigated the effect of pandemic infections on performance of small and medium enterprises; total lockdown on performance of SMEs; Relevant literatures were reviewed. The study was anchored on transaction cost Theory. The population of this study comprises 3000 registered SMEs in South-South Nigeria. The study adopted the Survey research design. The statistical formula by Borg and Gall was employed to determine the sample size of 353. The instruments were subjected to face and content validity. The reliability of the questionnaire was established through the test-retest and Cronbach’s Alpha. Simple percentage analysis was used in analyzing the research question. Hypotheses for the study were tested using Simple regression analysis. Covid-19 Pandemic infections had a significant negative effect on the SMEs performance; covid-19 lockdown had a significant and negative effect on SMEs in South –South, Nigeria; The study logically concluded that Covid-19 pandemic had negative effect on SMEs performance in the South-South, Nigeria. The study recommended that government and their health related ministries should come up with long-term swift-response-health-policy that will help to cushion the effect of covid-19 infections and other infectious diseases. SMEs in the South-South, Nigeria should be proactive in responding to covid-19 lockdown policies.