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© Frances, Audu, Vincent, and Ejikeme. (2023)
Corresponding author’s email: madufrances50@gmail.com
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International Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Creative Economy, Vol. 3 No. 2 (2023) https://doi.org/10.31098/ijebce.v3i2.1312
Covid-19 Pandemic and ICT Performance in Nigerian Banks: Financial
Transaction Perspective
Frances Nwamaka Madu
1
* , Audu Tanimu
2
, Vincent Onodugo
3
, Ejikeme Isichei
4
1
Coal City University, Nigeria
2
University of Nigeria, Nigeria
3
University of Nigeria, Nigeria
4
Federal University, Nigeria
Received : January 29, 2023 Revised : March 6, 2023 Accepted : May 10, 2023 Online : July 31, 2023
Abstract
The global outbreak and spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been referred to as the most dangerous
pandemic since World War II. The speed of the spread and the severity of the damage caused by the virus has
traumatized the global economy affecting both banks and customers. With the lockdown imposed by the government
to restrict the movement of people and activities caused by the increased level of coronavirus cases in Nigeria, the
fate of the financial users of about 40 million became unknown. Given the analysis of data on trends of COVID-19
infections from the World Health Organization and Nigerian Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the study
assessed the current situation. It indicated some specific concepts that the banking sector should consider and
address while taking the necessary measures to cope with the new change. The study used an ex-post-facto research
design, enabling the researcher to measure the effect or relationship between the dependent variable and
explanatory variables using time-series secondary data. The data collected was reviewed, and validated by CBN, the
Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, and the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) websites. The study concluded
that the ICT volume of e-payment has no significant effect on operational efficiency in Nigeria Banks, and the ICT
value of e-payment significantly affects operational efficiency in Nigeria Banks during the coronavirus lockdown.
Keywords Banking Operation, Corona-Virus, Information and Communication Technology
INTRODUCTION
The deep-rooted risk in making cash transactions over many years has made customers
solicit a convenient way of carrying out financial transactions other than the use of cash. In the era
of conventional banking, delivering services was difficult but cheaper. It was generally
uncomfortable and inconvenient, in the sense that customers could only go to the branch in which
their account is domiciled to carry out bank transactions. The need for performance and efficacy in
bank operations as a prerequisite for the survival of the financial services providers and banks
needs not be overemphasized (Binuyo & Aregbeshola, 2014; Peace et al., 2018). Putting into
consideration the potency of knowledge as one of the forces that enhance economies across the
globe has made the world digress to a knowledge-productive economy, thus presenting ICT as one
of the principal drivers of economic growth (San-Jose et al., 2009; Binuyo & Aregbeshola, 2014).
The effects of ICT enhance the improvements in the work rate and economic growth of firms
(Brynjolfsson & Hitt, 1996; Binuyo & Aregbeshola, 2014) and the entire economy.
The efficiency of banking operations is a major concern in the new monetary and financial
environment (Kosmidou & Zopounidis, 2008). Many investigators have attempted to measure
productivity and efficiency in banks using outputs, costs, efficiency, and performance. Performance
Research Paper