THE PERCEPTION OF IKEJA LGA RESIDENTS ON THE ROLE OF NTA IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE SPREAD OF CORONA VIRUS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

For many years, the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) has performed exceptionally well in disseminating information, educating the public, and fulfilling advocacy roles, particularly during critical moments and major events (Effiong, Nseobot, Johnny, Frank, Abere, Essien, & Ukpong, 2020). The emergence of the global pandemic known as COVID-19 caught the world off guard and unprepared, resulting in severe loss of lives, economic disruptions, and other devastating consequences in affected countries. In Nigeria, the presence of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) was officially confirmed on February 27, 2020, following a virology laboratory test conducted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital on a suspected Italian man who had arrived in Nigeria from Milan on February 24, 2020, via Turkish Airlines (Ihekweazu, 2020).

The 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, was first identified in Wuhan, China, among individuals suffering from pneumonia linked to seafood and live animal markets. As part of its commitment to public health, the Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, officially informed Nigerians about the reality of the virus. In light of these developments, this study seeks to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of NTA’s awareness programs, particularly in the Niger Delta region. When COVID-19 entered the southern Delta region in April, health workers had to overcome their fears and focus on the demanding tasks ahead. The challenges appeared overwhelming for the six states in the South-South zone: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers. Daily COVID-19 cases continued to rise while community attitudes toward the virus became increasingly relaxed. Health workers worked tirelessly to manage limited time and resources to address both COVID-19 and other prevalent endemic diseases (WHO, 2020).

Across the Niger Delta, the World Health Organization (WHO, 2020) and its partners retrained three thousand eight hundred and seventy-four (3,874) surveillance officers who had been deployed to detect COVID-19 cases in hospitals and communities; these officers were also tasked with identifying cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), polio, meningitis, cholera, neonatal tetanus, yellow fever, measles, and other diseases. Television serves as a powerful medium for reaching mass audiences, transcending barriers of age, sex, income, or educational level. It combines visual and auditory elements to create dramatic and lifelike representations of people, events, and products. For residents of Ikeja, it is essential for NTA to intensify awareness efforts in the region to protect lives and sustain economic activities in this oil-rich area that contributes significantly to national economic growth. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as of July 19, 2021, the number of confirmed cases in Ikeja stood at 2,285, with 456 deaths recorded.

Empirical evidence demonstrates

that practices such as washing hands with soap and running water, wearing face masks, and avoiding crowded areas play a vital role in public health, which in turn significantly supports a nation’s economic development and vice versa. Disease outbreaks have repeatedly undermined development and impoverished many developing nations, including Nigeria, by diverting resources originally intended for other sectors toward prevention, containment, and treatment of victims (Mayer et al., 2020). However, it has been clearly stated that efforts to achieve better health should not wait for economic improvement; instead, health-enhancing measures can themselves drive economic growth. During any disease outbreak, it is the government’s responsibility through the Ministry of Health to respond effectively by allocating sufficient funds and establishing necessary facilities to combat the virus. Additionally, non-governmental organizations, national and international health bodies, and corporate entities must create awareness through mass media and other communication channels. This involves sensitizing the public about the causes, signs, symptoms, preventive measures, and protective actions against the disease.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) followed the same pattern of awareness creation. It was first reported in January 2020, and since then, the disease has claimed numerous lives across its various global outbreaks (Ayodele, 2021). To curb its spread, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends raising community awareness about the risk factors for coronavirus infection and the protective measures individuals can adopt. Consequently, government bodies, charitable organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other agencies launched awareness campaigns on coronavirus. These efforts included broadcasting messages and jingles on radio and television stations, pasting posters in communities as part of long-term programs to inform the public and prevent further infections (Adhikari et al., 2020). Other strategies involved organizing seminars and workshops on coronavirus topics, as well as conducting outreach in streets and villages to educate the public on appropriate responses to the outbreak.

Health education is crucial for enabling the general public to internalize relevant health information that can guide their health-related behaviors. People tend to adopt health behaviors based on the information available to them. Thus, individuals’ health behaviors are largely shaped by the information they receive. As the fourth estate of the realm, the media plays a central role in health education. Several decades ago, Flora et al. (2019) identified four key roles that media can play in health interventions: media as educator, media as supporter, media as program promoter, and media as supplement. These roles may appear distinct but are often implemented in combination or individually. For instance, the media as educator function requires outlets to inform the masses about public health issues. The goal is to equip the public mentally with information that serves as a behavioral checklist. Lupton (2018) emphasizes that the media are vital actors in health education, often achieving this through a blend of education and entertainment. Slater and Flora (2019) assert that the media offer a robust platform for delivering health information to the general public and are essential in educating citizens about health matters.

According to Slater and Flora (2019), mass media channels supply health information to the public, guiding them toward life-saving behaviors. The primary method through which the media educate the public on health issues is through coverage. This involves frequently reporting on public health concerns, recommending appropriate health behaviors, and suggesting policies to combat the reported issues. Educating the public about health challenges is akin to preparing them for battle. Therefore, such education should ideally occur in advance, rather than only after an issue escalates into a pandemic, enabling proactive responses. In the context of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), local media should not have waited for confirmed cases in their country before informing the public about symptoms, prevention strategies, and recommended governmental actions. Unfortunately, earlier studies (Ray, 2019; Soola, Igbinoba, Omojola, Odukoya, Adekeye, & Salau, 2020) examining media coverage did not adequately address this proactive aspect.

Television news, shaped by news editors, producers, and managers, presents conflicts and issues as perceived. Awareness programs on any topic provide detailed information about the subject. Television remains a major medium for public information dissemination, and the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) is among the key channels statutorily responsible for transmitting such information. NTA operates numerous branches and substations nationwide. Television is a potent tool for conveying information, concepts, and ideas to both general and targeted audiences, and it plays a significant role in advancing public health objectives.

The role of broadcast media is

essential in promoting good governance and national well-being. Beyond raising awareness about corruption including its causes, consequences, and remedies it also investigates and reports on diseases affecting the country while offering solutions for prevention (Ayoola, 2018). The importance of broadcast media in sustaining a healthy society cannot be overstated. Media outlets fulfill a vital public accountability function by monitoring and investigating events within the country. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to examine the role of NTA in the fight against the spread of coronavirus.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic stunned the world and overwhelmed healthcare systems, even in high-income nations. This crisis naturally triggered social responses from the public and medical responses from governments (Flora et al., 2020). According to Lau and Chan (2015), coronaviruses have caused significant health issues in humans and animals over the past two decades. Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, and pneumonia. The virus spreads primarily through respiratory droplets from infected individuals (Sheikhi et al., 2020; Hassan et al., 2020).

Public health emergencies arising from communicable disease outbreaks can generate fear and anxiety, leading to prejudice against individuals and communities, social isolation, and stigma. Such reactions may result in heightened hostility, chaos, and unnecessary social disruptions. Reports have documented discrimination faced by COVID-19 patients, frontline healthcare workers, sanitation workers, and police officers involved in outbreak management due to heightened fear and misinformation. Even individuals who recovered from COVID-19 encountered similar stigma. Additionally, certain communities and areas have been unfairly targeted based on false information circulating on social media and other platforms. There is an urgent need to address these prejudices and foster communities equipped with health literacy that can respond effectively to such challenges. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has continued expanding laboratory capacity for COVID-19 testing and introduced the use of GeneXpert nationwide to increase testing capabilities. Through its #Take Responsibility campaign, the NCDC encourages Nigerians and residents to assume greater individual and collective responsibility in preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19.

Insufficient information delivered through mass media awareness programs can lead to serious negative consequences and unfavorable public perceptions, as observed during the global coronavirus pandemic. While many television and radio stations have used television as a primary medium to disseminate information and create awareness about the virus, concerns persist regarding the authenticity and validity of the information being shared. This study specifically examines the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Lagos branch, which holds statutory responsibility for transmitting such information via television a powerful tool for conveying information, concepts, and ideas to diverse audiences. While NTA plays a key role in advancing public health goals, it could also produce adverse effects if the information disseminated is misleading or inaccurate. Consequently, this study aims to assess the perception of Ikeja Local Government Area (LGA) residents regarding NTA’s role in combating the spread of coronavirus.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to assess the perception of Ikeja LGA residents on the role of NTA in the fight against the spread of coronavirus. The specific objectives that guided the study are to:

1. Find out if Ikeja LGA residents were exposed to NTA COVID-19 information.

2. Determine the role of NTA in disseminating information on health precautions.

3. Ascertain if media stories made suggestions to the government on how to stop the spread of COVID-19.

4. Assess the effectiveness of the NTA awareness programme on COVID-19 in Nigeria.

1.4 Research Questions

1. Are Ikeja LGA residents exposed to NTA COVID-19 information?

2. To what extent has NTA disseminated information on health precautions to the public?

3. What are the recommendations made by NTA to the government on how to stop the spread of COVID-19?

4. What is the effectiveness of the NTA awareness programme on COVID-19 in Nigeria?

1.5 Significance of the Study

A healthy nation is a wealthy nation. This well-known saying highlights the critical importance of health in any nation’s development. The uniqueness of this study lies in the fact that relatively few researchers have explored this specific topic in depth. This research contributes to the existing body of literature on fear, conflict, and other social issues in Nigeria. The findings will indicate whether the media have met expectations in conducting awareness campaigns on COVID-19. If public opinions reveal shortcomings, future studies can focus on strategies to help the media fulfill their roles more effectively. Additionally, the results will demonstrate the media’s effectiveness in shaping behaviors, influencing perceptions of social norms, and sustaining behavior change, especially during a global health pandemic. Finally, the findings will serve as empirical literature for future research and provide a valuable reference for subsequent studies.

1.6 Scope of the Study

This study focuses on

ascertaining the perception of Ikeja LGA residents regarding the role of NTA in the fight against the spread of coronavirus. The geographical area of the study is Ikeja Local Government Area in Lagos State. The researcher employed a survey research method to collect data. Questionnaires were distributed to residents of Ikeja LGA for completion and return. Respondents were drawn from three communities Alausa, Anifowose, and Oregun as well as from Ipodo Market, a popular market square in Ikeja metropolis. This location was selected because Lagos State was among the most affected states by the COVID-19 pandemic, making it particularly relevant to conduct the study there.

1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this research, the researcher encountered several limitations, including:

Some vital information was not fully provided, as staff of the NTA Lagos branch classified certain details as confidential and thus withheld them. However, the researcher explained the purpose of the study and engaged in discussions on relevant areas to obtain the necessary information.

Financial constraints related to transportation, combined with respondents’ reluctance to engage due to fear of the virus and the need to maintain social distancing, also posed challenges. The researcher therefore limited interactions to NTA Lagos branch staff while strictly observing all precautionary measures.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

COVID-19: This refers to

the 2019 coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, and spread globally as a pandemic disease. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral pneumonia characterized by symptoms such as dry cough, fever, sore throat, dyspnea, body pain, and diarrhea.

INFORMATION: This refers

to details concerning the nature, causes, symptoms, prevention, and care related to COVID-19.

The Nigeria Television Authority (NTA): This is a Nigerian government-owned and partly commercial broadcaster. For this study, the focus is on the Lagos branch.

News: This refers to NTA Lagos communications regarding COVID-19 issues. For this study, the emphasis is on news about the coronavirus that NTA is expected to broadcast.

EXPOSURE: This means being aware of or in contact with COVID-19 information, including its nature, causes, prevention, and protocols.

Dissemination of Information: This is the targeted distribution of information and intervention materials to a specific public health or clinical practice audience. Operationally, it refers to how residents of Ikeja LGA respond to messages from NTA concerning COVID-19.