Northern Nigeria Battles Rising Poverty Amidst Boko Haram, Banditry

A recent study has shed light on the growing issue of poverty in Northern Nigeria, highlighting the devastating impact of violent conflicts on the region's economy. The report, titled 'Insecurity, Livelihoods and Welfare in Northern Nigeria,' identifies Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency, farmer-herder clashes, and banditry as the primary causes of insecurity in the region. According to the findings, households affected by these conflicts have experienced significant expenditure losses, with those in the North-East recording an 8-14% decrease in expenditure per adult equivalent. The study also notes that conflict-related debt has resulted in additional expenditure losses of 8-13%. In the North-Central zone, farmer-herder clashes have had a severe impact on near-poor households, leading to a 14% drop in expenditure. Meanwhile, banditry and kidnapping in the North-West have been linked to expenditure losses of 4-11% among moderately poor households. Despite these challenges, the report suggests that livelihood diversification is a key strategy for building resilience and escaping chronic poverty. Combining farming, non-farming, and enterprise-based income-generating activities has emerged as a protective factor across all three conflict types. However, only 13% of household heads in Northern Nigeria are currently pursuing diversified income opportunities. The study also highlights the importance of education in strengthening households' ability to diversify income sources, although the benefits remain weaker among women- and youth-headed households. The report's findings were presented during a webinar convened by the Chronic Poverty Advisory Network, the Development Research and Projects Centre, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-supported Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria project. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, emphasized the need for evidence-based policy recommendations and pledged continued collaboration between the government and stakeholders. The minister also challenged researchers to generate evidence that would improve targeting, sequencing, and graduation pathways under the One Humanitarian–One Poverty Response System framework, particularly for women and young people who are often excluded from poverty reduction interventions.