The Impact of Militancy, Insurgency and Forced Displacement on Nigerian Economy

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume II, Issue X, October 2018 | ISSN 2454–6186

The Impact of Militancy, Insurgency and Forced Displacement on Nigerian Economy

Boris Happy Odalonu, Eberechukwu Faith Obani

Department of Political Science, Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract:-This study presents the analysis of the impacts of militancy, insurgency and forced displacement on Nigerian economy. The study covered two geo-political zones (South-South and North-East) of Nigeria. The ob¬jective of the study is to understand and analyze impacts of militancy, insurgency and forced displacement in Nigerian economy. Qualitative method of data collection was used and data were analyzed using descriptive method of data analysis. The study is anchored on relative deprivation and frustration-aggression as a theoretical framework of analysis. It reveals that, the persistent injustice, inequality, marginalization, poverty and radical ideology gave room to militancy, insurgency and forced displacement. It also shows that Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria is the greatest single cause of displacement in which over 2.5 million people are refugees or IDPs as a result of it. It further demonstrates that these have not only challenged the security of the Nigerian state but also threatened its unity, economic development, territoriality and sovereignty. The study therefore recommends that, government at all levels and its parastatals as well as the multinational oil companies, should pay special attention to those areas concerned by making provision for higher level of infrastructural development in order to boost the economy and ensure security both to local and foreign investors. Furthermore, government should look inwardly and uproot the cause of insurgence in the North-East of Nigeria in order to put an end to forced displacement in the country.

Key Words: Militancy, Insurgency, Displacement, Insecurity, Economy, Nigeria

I. INTRODUCTION

Historically, insurgency and militancy in Nigeria has been localized or regionally based. For instance, the current Boko Haram insurgency is localized in parts of the northern states, but they seem to have the potential of spreading to other parts of the sprawling territory of the north which would be a significant spread of that insurgency. Depending on the public policy response these groups, individually or collectively, have the potential to spread beyond their region or locale of operations (Muzan, 2014). On the other hand, militancy was originally localized in the Niger Delta region, however, there has been visible evidence of its operations in the Abuja area, Lagos and off-shore (Muzan, 2014).

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