Effect of covid-19 pandemic on small and medium enterprises (SMES) in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria

Mairo Abdullahi

Effect of covid-19 pandemic on small and medium enterprises (SMES) in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria

Authors
Mairo Abdullahi

Abstract
The aim is to assess the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Sokoto metropolis. The pandemic greatly disrupts the operations of SMEs in Nigeria and Sokoto State in particular. The study adopted quantitative research technique and using survey research method, primary data was used by administering questionnaires and interview schedules to owners of small and medium businesses in the metropolis. Stratified random sampling technique was adopted to sample out three hundred (300) SMEs from a population of One thousand one hundred and eighty (1180) SMEs. Furthermore, for fair representation of the population, fifty (50) samples of SMEs were selected at random within each of the six (6) local government areas (Kware, Sokoto South, Sokoto North, Bodinga, Dange/Shuni and Wamakko) situated within Sokoto metropolis. Three hundred (300) questionnaires/interview schedules were distributed. However, only two hundred and seventy two (272) were returned and analyzed using the Likert Scale, measures of central tendency was adopted also for data analysis. The study uses the Multiple Regressions analysis to evaluate the relationship between some key variables. It was observed that the COVID-19 pandemic's impact includes; decline in revenue, salary cuts, and neglect on the part of government to contain the spread of the Pandemic. The study recommended that government should curtail the spread of the pandemic by lowering of interest rate, relax loan, and provide tax holidays to enable SMEs function effectively. These will translate positively on the standard of living of the consumers, hence improvement in consumer purchasing power for health patronage especially during the pandemic.

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