COVID 19 Pandemic: Religious Leadership and the Challenges of Good Governance in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper focuses on the effects of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 in Nigeria as relates to issues of religion and the challenges of good governance. The recent outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in most countries of the world, which culminated in governments across the globe, instituting measures of lockdown as a means of containing the spread of the virus, appears to be a perceptible assessment for the religious institutions to re-evaluate their allegiance and commitment to good governance in Nigeria. The paper is a qualitative assessment of the issues of religious beliefs and the challenges of good governance in Nigeria as undergirded by the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in social distancing and banning of congregational religious activities in most countries of the world, was seen as a threat to religious activities by some religious groups and leadership in Nigeria. This notion consequently led to various utterances and actions that challenged the responsive efforts of government in containing the virus. The paper argues that such conducts are inimical to state public health measures and good governance in Nigeria. It, therefore, surmises that religious groups, particularly their leaders, need to discontinue from complicating an already challenged political leadership of the country, rather they should endeavour to use their enormous influence and contribute towards good governance by controlling faith-based emotions, synergizing and assisting the government, especially in such difficult time in history as presented by the pandemic. If religious sentiments are significantly controlled, democratic governance in Nigeria will fare better.