Insecurity in Northern Nigeria Erodes Household Welfare

A report presented during a webinar on June 17 indicates that insecurity in Northern Nigeria severely impacts household welfare, contributing to chronic poverty. The research categorizes insecurity into three types: Boko Haram and ISWAP violence in the North East, farmer-herder conflicts in the North Central, and banditry and kidnapping in the North West.

The study utilized data from the Nigeria Living Standards Survey 2022/23 and the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey 2024, alongside qualitative fieldwork conducted by the Development Research Project Centre (DRPC). Findings show that households affected by Boko Haram violence experience an 8-14% reduction in expenditure per adult equivalent, while farmer-herder conflicts lead to a 14% drop in expenditure for the poorest households.

Banditry and kidnapping result in a 4-11% expenditure loss, particularly among moderately poor households. The report emphasizes the need for action, including livelihood diversification, to build resilience and escape chronic poverty.