Survey Data on (Non)compliance with COVID-19 Lockdown and Policing in Nigeria

Previous studies have established the potency of lockdown in managing public health emergencies such as a pandemic. Hence, the Nigerian government, just like its counterparts across the globe affected by the scourge of COVID-19 pandemic, followed the path of the global community to impose a stringent lockdown as a non-pharmaceutical intervention to respond to and contain the pandemic. This imposition occasioned the deployment of police personnel. Still, unfortunately, the imposition and subsequent enforcement were greeted mainly with stiff resistance and defiance by the public due to insufficient socio-economic materials that could make compliance with the order possible. Also, the enforcement of the lockdown amplified the police illegalities that existed before the lockdown period. For academic discourse and policy practice's sake, this study, therefore, examined the reasons for the violation of the lockdown, the experience of citizens in the hands of the police (police illegalities) and the practical solution to the situation. The data gathered sheds light on grey police-public relations in Nigeria. Also, it can be instrumental in police reform, public administration & policy and the management of emergencies and pandemics.
From the insights gathered with a semi-structured interview and analysed with the thematic analysis method, the study observed that economic hardship, unavoidable matters from the citizens’ end and mistrust of authorities fueled non-compliance. Such mistrust amplified misinformation during the pandemic. Although there was a reasonable level of compliance, the pre-existing police illegalities (extortion and bribery) facilitated the cases of non-compliance in Nigeria. Also, hostility ensued between police personnel and citizens during the enforcement of the lockdown. Therefore, this study advised the government and stakeholders on the imperatives of adequate socio-economic preparations, emphasising public trust and the provision of relief materials. Additionally, it suggested to the police authorities reform ideas to better equip, monitor, and manage police resources for effective handling of future pandemics.

既往研究已证实，封锁措施在应对公共卫生突发事件（如全球大流行）方面的有效性。受新冠疫情灾祸影响的尼日利亚政府，与全球其他受疫情波及的国家一样，遵循国际社会的通行做法，实施严格的封锁措施，将其作为应对并遏制疫情的非药物干预手段（non-pharmaceutical intervention）。该封锁令的实施部署了大量警务人员参与执行，但遗憾的是，由于缺乏足够支撑民众遵守防疫指令的社会经济保障物资，封锁令的实施及后续执行过程主要遭遇了公众的强烈抵制与公然违抗。此外，封锁执法过程还加剧了封锁实施前就存在的警方违法行为。出于学术探讨与政策实践的考量，本研究针对民众违反封锁令的原因、民众在警方执法过程中遭遇的情况（即警方违法行为），以及该问题的可行解决方案展开了分析。本次采集的数据揭示了尼日利亚警民关系中的灰色地带，同时本数据集可为警务改革、公共行政与政策制定，以及突发事件与疫情防控工作提供有益参考。

本研究通过半结构化访谈（semi-structured interview）收集数据，并采用主题分析法（thematic analysis method）进行分析，结果发现：经济困境、市民自身的不可抗事务，以及对当局的不信任，是推动民众不遵守防疫规定的核心动因。这种不信任进一步加剧了疫情期间的不实信息传播。尽管有相当比例的民众选择遵守防疫要求，但尼日利亚此前就存在的警方违法行为（勒索与受贿）进一步助长了民众的不配合行为。此外，在封锁执法过程中，警务人员与民众之间爆发了对立冲突。据此，本研究建议尼日利亚政府及相关利益攸关方，务必做好充分的社会经济保障准备，重点提升公众信任度并发放救济物资。此外，本研究还向警方管理部门提出了改革建议，以更好地配备装备、监督管理警务资源，从而在未来应对疫情时能够更高效地开展相关工作。