Caught between conflict and development

While Nigeria is the second largest economic power in Africa, more than 60% of its population lives below the poverty line. In the northeastern part, a protracted conflict between the government and non-state armed groups has killed nearly 27,000 people since nine years. Nearly 2 million people has been displaced in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Adawama, which have been declared in a state of emergency due to the attacks.

They have taken refuge in informal and formal camps as well as in host community, affecting the living conditions of local communities. The ongoing conflict deprives the population from livelihoods opportunities and lifesaving assistance, which exacerbates the malnutrition toll on the most vulnerable. Nearly 2.9 million people are severely food insecure and 440 000 children under five years old suffer from severe acute malnutrition. UN estimates that more than 800 000 persons are still living in inaccessible areas for humanitarian actors, which raises concerns for these trapped families.

Nigeria is the Africa’s largest economy in 2016, it derives its income mainly from the oil sector and agriculture. First demographic power on the continent with 190 million inhabitants, Nigeria population could reach 400 million by 2050. Meanwhile, the big gap is widening; about 20 billionaires and more than 30,000 millionaires are facing the 61% of the population who live on less than a dollar a day. While Lagos is booming, the country is facing huge disparities, especially in the north, which suffers from a lack of investment and the conflict that undermines development efforts.

On a daily basis, the needs of the populations are visible, particularly in our intervention areas, which cover the regions of Jigawa, Yobe and Borno. On the Niger border, our outreach team travels every week to reach pregnant and lactating mothers and their children suffering from malnutrition in remote communities. Some families walk up to three hours to receive their treatment. In Borno state, internally displaced person lost all their belongings when running afar from armed groups. With our cash transfer activities, we help them answering their more urgent needs but also to recover and develop new livelihoods opportunities with as much dignity and empowerment as possible. In Jigawa, we work hand to hand with the government to implement a social protection policy.