The incidence of COVID-19, beyond being a global health concern posed a challenge to media professionals, public health organisations, nations, and the international system as they sought effective ways of mobilizing the global population to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. As information about the virus and how to curtail it permeated the media space, public perception of such information played a major role in the adoption of such preventive measures amidst the infodemic that threatened the successful containment of the pandemic. This study using the mixed method of research assessed public perception of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)'s non-pharmaceutical intervention against COVID-19 and infodemic on social media in north-central Nigeria. The study revealed that Social Media users often seek to meet certain personal and social needs, including information, social interaction, freedom of expression, enjoyment, social presence, belongingness, and social identity. It also argued that social media can be deployed effectively to achieve anticipated social and behavioural change in the interest and survival of society despite the cacophony of information and sources. The study therefore recommended that the application of social media be reinforced by the NCDC, and similar institutions seeking the adoption or change of certain behaviours in ways that seek to meet certain personal and social needs of its target audience.
Vol. 3, No 2, pp. 116-126.