The Effects of Farmer/Herder Conflict on Socioeconomic Development of Nigeria

Abstract

The paper examined the herder and farmer conflict on social economic development of Nigeria. The study presented the structural theory and the Frustration-Anger-Aggression Hypothesis to provide possible explanations for the crisis. The causes of farmers/herders clashes in recent times were identified to be a function of several factors not only limited to climate change resulting in drought and desertification soil degradation; growing population size, global terrorism, crime (rural banditry and cattle rustling) amongst others. Previous and present government responses to this crisis have been most disappointing with no clear cut and sustainable policy both by the federal and state government. This crisis has resulted in displacement of people from their communities, women and girls vulnerability to sexual and economic predation, huge economic burden on the government leading to loss of revenues, dwindling food supply and rising cost, increasing division among the Federating states and threat to National Security amongst others. The study recommends that the crisis should be addressed quickly to avert impeding food crisis, government should strengthen the mechanism for conflict resolutions, and above all herdsmen should know that the imperatives of a modern economy require that pastoralism should be laid to rest, while embracing improved modern methods of animal husbandry with improved high yields and disease resistant species (cattle). When this is done a win-win situation would be achieved for all stakeholders.