A new study has revealed that persistent insecurity across Northern Nigeria is worsening poverty, destroying livelihoods and reducing the ability of millions of households to recover from economic hardships, with violent conflicts continuing to undermine social and economic development across the region.
The report, titled “Insecurity, Livelihoods and Welfare in Northern Nigeria,” was presented during a high-level webinar organised by the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network (CPAN) of the United Kingdom’s Institute of Development Studies, in collaboration with the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) and the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) project, which is supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Conflict Fueling Poverty Through Multiple Channels
Presenting the findings, CPAN Deputy Director, Dr. Vidya Diwakar, said the study found that insecurity is intensifying poverty through several interconnected channels, including loss of income, destruction of productive assets, disruption of markets and increasing household vulnerability to economic shocks.
According to the report, three major forms of conflict are affecting Northern Nigeria: the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgency in the North-East, farmer-herder clashes in the North-Central region and banditry and kidnapping in the North-West.
The study noted that each type of violence affects communities differently but collectively contributes to declining household welfare and increased deprivation.
Boko Haram Insurgency Has Greatest Impact
The report identified Boko Haram and ISWAP violence as having the most devastating effect on household welfare. It found that families exposed to insurgent attacks experienced between 8 and 14 per cent lower household expenditure per adult where incidents occurred within two years preceding the survey.
Researchers further noted that conflict-related debts accumulated since 2009 imposed additional losses of between 8 and 13 per cent on affected households, making it increasingly difficult for families to rebuild their lives and escape poverty.
The study said years of insurgency have disrupted farming, trade and education in many communities, leaving thousands of households dependent on humanitarian assistance and informal coping mechanisms.
Farmer-Herder Clashes Hit Near-Poor Families Hardest
In the North-Central region, recurring clashes between farmers and herders were found to have severe consequences for households already living close to the poverty line.
According to the report, these conflicts caused expenditure declines of up to 14 per cent among households around the 60th income percentile, indicating that many families previously considered economically stable are now sliding into poverty.
Researchers attributed the losses to destruction of farms, displacement of communities, disruption of agricultural activities and reduced access to markets.
Banditry and Kidnapping Taking Toll on North-West
The report also highlighted the growing impact of banditry and kidnapping in the North-West, where expenditure losses ranging from 4 to 11 per cent were recorded, particularly among moderately poor households.
It noted that the activities of armed groups have weakened local economies, restricted farming activities and increased the cost of doing business, forcing many residents to abandon their traditional means of livelihood.
Communities affected by bandit attacks have also experienced displacement and declining investment, further worsening living conditions.
Income Diversification Key to Escaping Poverty
Despite the challenges, the study identified livelihood diversification as one of the most effective strategies for reducing vulnerability and escaping poverty.
According to the report, households that combine farming with off-farm activities and small enterprises are better able to withstand the economic effects of insecurity.
“Livelihood diversification, including farm, off-farm and enterprise income generation activities, is the single most consistent protective factor across all three conflict types,” the report stated.
However, researchers observed that only 13 per cent of household heads in Northern Nigeria currently engage in multiple sources of income, indicating that the majority remain heavily dependent on a single livelihood that is vulnerable to shocks.
Education Expands Economic Opportunities
The study further found that education plays a significant role in helping households diversify their incomes and improve resilience.
Nevertheless, women- and youth-headed households, which make up nearly 29 per cent of households in the region, were found to benefit less from available economic opportunities due to limited access to education, assets and financial resources.
The report warned that without targeted interventions, these vulnerable groups could continue to lag behind in efforts aimed at poverty reduction and economic recovery.
Government Pledges Collaboration
Speaking during the webinar, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Bernard Doro, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to working with development partners and researchers to tackle poverty and humanitarian challenges.
He called for more evidence-based research to guide interventions under the government’s One Humanitarian-One Poverty Response System, especially in designing programmes that support women and young people who are often excluded from economic opportunities.
The minister stressed the importance of improving targeting mechanisms, sequencing interventions and developing sustainable graduation pathways that would enable vulnerable households to transition out of poverty permanently.
Need for Long-Term Solutions
Development experts at the event noted that while humanitarian assistance remains important, addressing the root causes of insecurity and expanding economic opportunities are essential to breaking the cycle of poverty in Northern Nigeria.
They emphasized that improving security, investing in education, supporting small businesses and encouraging livelihood diversification would be critical to building resilience and restoring economic stability across the region.
The report concludes that unless insecurity is effectively addressed, poverty levels in Northern Nigeria are likely to deepen further, threatening not only household welfare but also the broader prospects for sustainable development and national stability.
