INVESTIGATION OF THE LEVEL OF COVID-19 SAFETY COMPLIANCE AMONG SMES IN NIGERIA

INVESTIGATION OF THE LEVEL OF COVID-19 SAFETY COMPLIANCE AMONG SMES IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Small and medium scale enterprises has been a focal point of the various governments of the world, because SMEs have flexible configurations and immensely contributed to nation building respectively (Aderemi et al. 2019) . Generally, the World Bank classed SMEs as enterprises with maximum of 300 people.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria`s setting, small and medium scale firms are regarded as business entities that have less than 50 employees. Basically, these firms contain investment in machinery and equipment that is less or equivalent to six hundred thousand naira and independently owned and controlled with a view to producing work opportunities and satisfying sales standard (CBN, 2018).

National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)estimated numbers of SMEs in Nigeria to be 41.4 million. The distinctive nature of SMEs resides in the usage of raw materials from local sources, creation of employment, incentive for rural development, entrepreneurship development, mobilization of local savings and platform for self-employment.

However, terrible impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on both human and material resources in early 2020 cannot be ignored in a hurry. The Wuhan-COVID-19 arose in 2019 in China like the way Ebola did in West Africa in 2014. But, COVID-19 turned into worldwide pandemic- which spread across the globe without obstruction (WHO, 2020).

This unique virus triggered off different limitations to movement of people, goods and services. The closure of factories businesses alongside reduction in production of good and services was not left out due to the stay-indoors orders invariably reverberated its effect to activities of SMEs globally however after the lockdown with not all the SME’s functioning, the ordeal was how to ensure the rate of Covid-19 spread is drastically reduced.

This is only achievable when SME owners and patronizers comply to the stipulated safety guidelines. Evidence from Worldometre 2020 indicate that asymptomatic infection and transmission of COVID-19 is possible.

Asymptomatic infection occurs when an individual is infected but experiences no symptoms, while asymptomatic transmission occurs when an infected individual without symptoms transmits the virus to another person.

These evidences imply that in countries like Nigeria, where the capacity to conduct mass testing is lacking and contact tracing is not very effective, asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases act as silent spreaders and this underlines the importance of social distancing, regular hand washing and good hygiene, and mask wearing to be practiced primarily among the general public especially owners and patronizers of SMEs.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Small and medium-sized businesses, such as supermarkets, hotels, fast food restaurants, and manufacturing sectors, are just as vulnerable to COVID-19 as other public spaces that are frequented by a lot of people who interact with staff and one another. These are places where visitors stay in close quarters for a short time and where there is a lot of interaction between patrons and employees.

These important concerns are not limited to cafeterias, restaurants, and supermarkets. Actually, businesses that provide goods and services that need special care for their clients and customers must make sure that all employees and clients adhere to the WHO’s basic COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

In addition to implementing stringent visitor/customer policies, SMEs must closely adhere to their staff health, hygienic practices, and proper usage of personal protective equipment while on the job.

Coronavirus can be stopped from spreading by cleaning and disinfecting high-touch and frequent areas with approved chemicals and sanitisers at predetermined intervals, as well as by using social distance and staff optimisation during shifts. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to ascertain how well Nigerian SMEs adhere to COVID-19 safety regulations.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The overall goal of this study is to evaluate the degree of COVID-19 safety compliance among Nigerian SMEs. In particular, this research aims to:

Examine the many COVID-19 safety protocols that Nigerian SMEs adhere to.

2. Examine if the owners of SMEs are strict at adhering to the covid-19 safety standards in Nigeria.

3. To determine the extent of covid-19 safety compliance among SMEs in Nigeria.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 

1. What are the various COVID-19 safety precautions that Nigerian SMEs adhere to?

2. Do Nigerian SMEs’ owners strictly follow the COVID-19 safety guidelines?

3. To what degree do employees and clients in Nigerian SMEs adhere to COVID-19 safety regulations?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study would heighten the degree of awareness of SME’s owners and staff on the necessity to comply to the covid-19 safety measures as they are at a high risk exposure to the diseases when offering commercial services and product.

It will compel chief executive officers, managing director, and business owners on the requirement to guarantee they put up facilities and equipment that would permit the efficient compliance to this Covid-19 safety measures withing their business premises or factories.

It will allow the government to make sure that relevant agencies, such as the Covid-19 task force, regularly inspect small and medium-sized businesses to maintain a high level of compliance, which will slow the development of this new disease. As a result, the study will also act as a guide for scholars looking to advance their research in this field.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study would use Kilimanjaro Fast Food and Pick Payless Supermarket in Port Hacourt, Rivers State, as a case study to evaluate the degree of COVID-19 safety compliance among SMEs in Nigeria.

1.7 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0: SMEs have a poor degree of COVID-19 safety compliance.

H1: SMEs have a high degree of COVID-19 safety compliance.

1.8 THE LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The following are just a few of the difficulties that were faced during the course of the investigation. These are:

Insufficient funding was a barrier for the study, making it difficult for the researcher to visit Access Banks in Lagos, particularly when it came to printing and compiling the questionnaires.

Time is another limitation because it was necessary to manage this research while juggling other academic obligations, which prevented this study from being conducted in a larger, more representative sample.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS 

COVID-19: The condition known as COVID-19 is brought on by a new coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

SMEs: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are non-subsidiary, independent firms which employ fewer than a given number of employees.

SAFETY: the situation of being free and protected from risk or something that is harmful

COMPLIANCE: compliance is complying to stipulated rules, standards, processes, policies and laws