VIOLENT CONFLICTS AND POVERTY RATE IN NIGERIA

The growing tension in Nigeria as a result of violent conflicts has reached a worrisome height and has taken an unprecedented dimension that has never been imagined by experts in the field of national security. This study focused on the nexus between violent conflicts and the poverty rate in Nigeria from 2000 to 2024. The specific objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of violent conflicts on the achievement of the Millenium Development Goal 1 and to establish the threat that violent conflicts pose to the achievement of Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Goal 1. This study used time series data while adopting an ex-post facto research design. The study used the descriptive statistical analysis method of data analysis, which involves the numerical measurement of variables. Thus, the datasets generated from the documentary observation were presented in tables, graphs, and charts and were analyzed. The results revealed that violent conflicts in Nigeria destroyed lives and properties, economic infrastructure, and restricted people from engaging meaningfully in agriculture, trade, and other economic activities, which stimulated poverty. These outcomes undermined people’s well-being and thus disrupted the achievement of MDG 1. With only 4 years left to the end of SDGs and with the persistence of violent conflicts, the study foresees difficulty in attaining SDG 1. Consequently, the study recommended that the government and other development partners should adopt conflict resolution, peacebuilding and peacekeeping as elements of poverty reduction or alleviation policy or program, particularly with respect to achieving SDG 1.