ObjectiveThis study set out to investigate the risk of household food insecurity in Nigeria during the novel COVID-19 pandemic using a harmonised dataset of Nigeria’s prepandemic face-to-face survey and two waves of the COVID-19 National Longitudinal Phone Survey (NLPS).SettingNigeria.ParticipantsA representative sample of 1674 households is used in the analysis.DesignA longitudinal study.ResultsOur longitudinal study reveals a significant increase in the prevalence of food insecurity in Nigeria during the COVID-19 crisis. For a sample of 1674 households used in the analysis, nearly 32% were moderately food insecure in the baseline survey (ie, the prepandemic period), compared with 74% and 72% that faced the same degree of food insecurity in the two waves of the COVID-19 phone survey. In like manner, not up to 4% of the households faced severe food insecurity in the prepandemic period, compared with 43% and 22% that experienced the same level of food insecurity during the period of the pandemic. Based on the available information in the dataset, we construct a composite non-monetary measure (or index) of household well-being and employ the binary logistic model to investigate the objects under study. The empirical results show that the well-being index has a strong negative association with household food insecurity. Further investigation reveals that the risk of being food insecure increases for households in relatively poor living conditions compared with those in the middle category and conversely declines for households in much better living conditions.ConclusionThis study informs an understanding of the prevalence and risk of household food insecurity in Nigeria during the novel COVID-19 pandemic and provides insights that can guide policy actions in responding to the current wave of food crises in Nigeria.
The business environment goes a long way to influence firm performance through several channels such as government policies and regulations, institutions, infrastructure, and macroeconomic variations. With developing countries known for having the most deteriorating business climate, this study set out to answer the question: "Does business climate account for firm exit in developing countries?" Using a comprehensive dataset of panel firms from the World Bank Enterprise Survey in Nigeria, the study aggregates 15 firm-level constraint variables into a composite index and estimates the likelihood of firm exit using the binary probit model. The results from the analysis infer that the unconducive state of the business climate in Nigeria significantly impedes firms’ prospects for survival. More specifically, the estimated probability of exiting the market is predicted to grow by 11% points for every additional increase in the constraint index. The recommendation follows that efforts should be geared toward improving the state of the business climate in Nigeria through carefully designed policies that can foster private sector development. Such policies should among others increase government investment in critical infrastructure, eliminate destructive tax policies, and maintain a healthy macroeconomic environment, which by implication, go a long way to improve business longevity and contributes to national development.
This study examines the impact of business constraints on firm exit using harmonized dataset of panel firms from the World Bank Enterprise Survey in Nigeria. It applies a confirmatory methodology – factor analysis to aggregate 15 firm-level indicators of business constraints into an index scale and estimates firm likelihood of exit from the market using binary probit model. Findings suggest that firm exit in Nigeria is not determined by current level of constraints in the business environment; however, additional level of constraints will result to more firms exiting the market. This finding holds true in the entire model specifications; that is, with and without accounting for firms’ differences or demographics, the squared business constraint index has a significant positive association with firm exit. By implication, addressing constraints in the business environment can improve business survival prospect and in return contribute to national development. Therefore, it is imperative that policymakers in developing countries like Nigeria should gear more efforts towards improving business environment in their economies through carefully designed policies that can foster private sector development.
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