COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The devastating effect of the yet-to-be-resolved COVID-19 pandemic permeated all spheres of human endeavor, basically every nation across the globe is still grappling with the solution to an exit plan from the global widespread cataclysm. The climax of the epidemic led to a global shutdown of all economic transactions globally in march 2020; leading to negative economic experiences such as depression and recession by many economies. Supply Chain Management (SCM) involves the layout, organization, execution, management and monitoring of the free flow of goods (raw materials, work-in-progress and finished goods) as well as services amongst individual or organization from origin to the final consumer. Empirical evidence has shown that the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic is traced to Wuhan, China in late 2019. The main objective of this study is to examine the effect of the global pandemic on sustainable supply management in Nigeria. The foremost issues this study seek to clarify includes; shutdown in traditional export/import activities, increased demurrage on un-cleared goods and reduced capacity utilization. The study will elucidate on the basic conceptualization of Supply Chain Management, COVID-19 and Sustainability; specifically, the study will adopt the Network Perspective (NP) theory to comprehensively explain Supply Chain Management concept. Qualitative research methodology was adopted in conducting the study through comprehensive personal interviews to clarify SCM issues and the use of secondary data to obtain documented information as well. The outcome of the study will form the basis of the study discussion of the findings. Based on study objective and the discussion of findings, recommendations and conclusions will be deduced to ensure that all stakeholders make adequate input to eradicate terrorism in Nigeria.