MAPPING THE RISK AND DISTRIBUTION PATTERN OF COVID-19 PREVALENCE IN NIGERIA: GIS APPROACH

Abstract

The novel corona virus (COVID-19) outbreak is a public health global disaster. This study explored the techniques of Geographic Information System (GIS) in assessing the risk and spread of COVID19 across the 36 states in Nigeria and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the main objective of showing how maps can be employed in explaining pandemic situations for easy interpretation and quick decision-making. The study relies on publicly available data on COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, sourced from the website of Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC). Geo-visualization analysis technique was adopted for this study with results presented in form of maps. Results show that Lagos, Oyo, Edo, Rivers, Kano, Delta, Kaduna, Ogun, Plateau states and Abuja (FCT) are hardly hit by the pandemic in terms of the total number of both confirmed cases and deaths respectively as at Thursday 13th of August, 2020. Findings also revealed that Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau states and Abuja (FCT) were classified as the very high risk states to the pandemic. The use of maps for easy explanations, effective planning, preparedness and response to pandemic phenomena was equally established by this study. Since the virus spreads easily through human to human contact, it is recommended that restrictions of movements should be the priority of every concern stakeholder.