Armed conflict and food security in Nigeria

This study examines the impact of armed conflict on food security in Nigeria, with a particular focus on how insurgency, farmer-herder clashes, and rural banditry disrupt agricultural productivity, market access, and food distribution systems. Guided by Conflict Theory, the research explores the relationship between conflict and food insecurity, focusing on availability, accessibility, utilisation, and stability of food. The study aims to (i) examine the impact of armed conflict on food production and distribution, (ii) assess the socioeconomic consequences of food insecurity, and (iii) explore coping strategies adopted by affected communities. A review of relevant literature and empirical studies across the North-East, Middle Belt, and North-West regions highlights severe disruptions caused by conflict, including displacement, farmland inaccessibility, and weakened supply chains, all of which exacerbate hunger and malnutrition. The findings reveal that affected communities often adopt short-term coping mechanisms such as migration, food rationing, and informal community support, which offer limited resilience. In response, the study recommends that the government enhance security in agricultural zones, implement agricultural recovery and livelihood support programs, and promote community-based peace-building initiatives to strengthen long-term food system resilience. These recommendations aim to inform policy decisions that support sustainable food security and socioeconomic stability in Nigeria's conflict-affected regions.