CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The epidemic of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections that began in China in late 2019 has rapidly grown and cases have been reported worldwide. An empirical estimate of the serial interval the time from illness onset during a primary case (infector) to illness onset during a secondary case (infectee) is required to know the turnover of case generations and transmissibility of the disease (Fine, 2003). Estimates of the serial interval can only be obtained by linking dates of onset for infector-infectee pairs, and these links aren't easily established. A recently published epidemiological study used contact tracing data from cases reported in Hubei Province early in the epidemic to estimate the mean serial interval at 7.5 days (Li et al. 2020), which is consistent with the 8.4-day mean serial interval reported for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) from Singaporean household contact data (Lipsitch et al. 2003). However, there were only six infector infectee pairs in this dataset, and sampling bias may have been introduced to the variance and mean. To further assess the serial interval of COVID-19 infections we compiled a dataset of 28 publicly shared infector-infectee pairs and calculated the serial interval from these data.

The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 were first reported by officials in Wuhan City, China, in December 2019. A thorough investigation by the Chinese authorities responsible for infection disease control came to realization of the early symptoms of of the SARS-CoV-2 on human in early December 2019. While a number of the earliest known cases had a link to a wholesale foodstuff in Wuhan, some didn't. Many of the initial patients were stall owners, market employees, or regular visitors to the present market. As at December 2019 the samples taken from this market tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, further suggesting that the market in Wuhan City was the source of this outbreak or played a task within the initial amplification of the outbreak. The market was closed on 1 January 2020.

SARS-CoV-2 was made known to the general public in early January and its genetic sequence shared publicly on 11-12 January. The full genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 from the early human cases and the sequences of many other virus isolated from human cases from China and every one over the planet since then show that SARS-CoV-2 has an ecological origin in bat populations. All available evidence so far suggests that the virus features a natural animal origin and isn't a manipulated or constructed virus. Many researchers are ready to check out the genomic features of SARS-CoV-2and have found that evidence doesn't support that SARS-CoV-2 could also be a laboratory construct. If it were a constructed virus, its genomic sequence would show a mixture of known elements. This is not the case.

Another coronavirus, SARS-CoV-1 still in Wuhan, china that is known for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, was also closely related to other corona viruses isolated from bats. These close genetic relations of SARS-CoV-1, SARSCoV-2 and other corona viruses, suggest that they all have their ecological origin in bat populations.

This corona virus (SARS-CoV-1 can cause serious illness in all types of animal; this simply means that the virus act irrespective of the species. For example, SARS-CoV-1 infected civet cats then humans, while the virus causing the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) is found in dromedary camels, and has continued to infect humans since 2012.

                On the other hand the covid19 pandemic might have effect on the real estate investment in Nigeria. Housing has been viewed as the process of delivering a large number of residential buildings on a permanent basis, with sufficient physical infrastructure and social amenities, in planned, decent, safe and sanitary neighborhoods (The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, 2002; Ibrahim and Mbamali, 2013).

Rapid growth in population creates high demand towards shelter and efficient supply and distribution of basic utilities and services for city dwellers (Bala and Bustani, 2009). In most urban centers, the problem of housing is not only restricted to quantity but to the poor quality of available housing units (Ajayi and Omole, 2012). According to Coker et al., (2007), a satisfactory home is one in a suitable living environment with portable water, adequate shelter and other services and facilities. The housing condition of a country is a pointer to the health motivation, economic well-being and the social circumstances of her citizens.

Housing affects the life of an individual as it provides the space for protection, privacy, economic activities, recreation and livelihood (Ajayi and Omole, 2012). The introduction of Public Private Partnership in housing in Nigeria started in the early 1990s with the introduction of National Housing Policy (NHP) (Ademuyi, 2010).

The delivery of basic utilities and services especially housing, is partly the responsibility of the government, which has been handicapped by financial constraints, and many other issues (Ademiluyi and Raji, 2008). In developing countries such as Nigeria, poor housing delivery has been attributed to insufficient mechanisms and systems for land allocation, funding, mortgage institutions and infrastructure (Bala and Bustani 2008; Encarta, 2007).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The covid19 pandemic has causes a lot of instability in the Nigeria economy especially the real estate sector. The time for delivery of real estate projects has not been encouraging. The total lockdown as a result of the covid 19 pandemic has made the level of patronage of the real estate sector dropped significantly. Lastly there have been series of studies on the covid 19 but not even a single study has tried to relate it with the real estate sector. It is to this regard that study is based on the impact of covid-19 pandemic on claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The study came up with research questions so as to ascertain the above stated objectives of the study. The following research questions guide the objectives of the study:

1. What is the relationship between covid19 pandemic and claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria?
2. What are the challenges facing the real estate investment in the area of successful service delivery during covid19 pandemic?
3. To what extent has the covid19 pandemic impacted the claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria?
4. What are the ways to improve claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria?

1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The main purpose of the research work is to review the impact of covid-19 pandemic on claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are:

1. to determine the relationship between covid19 pandemic and claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria
2. to identify the challenges facing the real estate investment in the area of successful service delivery during covid19 pandemic
3. to determine the extent to which the covid19 pandemic has impacted the claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria
4. to recommend ways to improve claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on review the impact of covid-19 pandemic on claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria will be of immense benefit the real estate sector in Nigeria; the study will explore the covid 19 pandemic and the situation of the real estate investment in Nigeria. The findings of the study will improve the claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria. The study will also serve as a repository of information to other researchers that desire to carry out similar research on the above topic. Finally the study will contribute to the body of the existing literature on review the impact of covid-19 pandemic on claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria.

1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study covers on the impact of covid-19 pandemic on claims management for successful delivery of real estate investment in Nigeria.

Limitation Of The Study

Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview). The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

CORONA VIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19):

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus. The disease causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. You can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face, and avoiding close contact (1 meter or 3 feet) with people who are unwell.

REAL ESTATE

Real estate is "property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this an item of real property, buildings or housing in general

INFRASTRUCTURE        

The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g. buildings, roads, and power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise