COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND FOOD SECURITY SITUATION IN JOS-NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

The current state of food insecurity engendered by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, especially in Jos-North Local Government Area of Plateau State is quiet worrisome and alarming. This paper critically assesses the impact of COVID-19 on food security in Jos-North Local Government Area of Plateau State. This study analyzes the factors responsible for the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria, examine the impact of COVID-19 disease on food security, and examine the strategies used by the Plateau State government to avoid food crisis. Based on the objectives, the following research questions were asked to provide answers: What factors significantly influence the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria? How does COVID-19 disease affect food security? What are the strategies used by the Plateau State government to prevent a food crisis? Both primary and secondary data were used for this study. The paper identified an increase in the price of food commodity, loss of job/salary reduction, reduction in food purchase, reduction in food production and distribution, disruption of food availability and accessibility as the main effects of the global pandemic on food security in the Plateau State. It concludes that the inability of government (Federal and State) to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has weakened efforts at achieving food security. Based on the above conclusion, the paper recommends that governments at all levels should step up the fight against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. Providing testing capacities in all Primary healthcare centres, and security for local farmers to keep the agricultural sector going would be efforts in the right direction.