Herdsmen, kidnappers hamstring Nigeria's diversification efforts

For decades, Nigeria has remained heavily dependent on crude oil as its primary source of revenue, making the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices.

Successive administrations have repeatedly promised to diversify the economy, with agriculture seen as a key sector for achieving sustainable growth and food security.

However, efforts to elevate agriculture have been undermined by a series of security challenges, particularly the activities of herdsmen and kidnappers, which have severely disrupted farming communities across the country.

“As long as we are a monolithic economy, the constraints to having the strong exchange rate that we all desire will continue to be hampered,” Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, said after a recent Monetary Policy Committee meeting. “We need to diversify our economy. There’s only so much that the central bank can do.”

Role of agriculture in economic diversification

Agriculture has always held potential as an economic driver in Nigeria. The country’s vast arable land, favourable climate, and large population offer immense opportunities for expanding agricultural output.

Before the discovery of oil, agriculture was Nigeria’s economic backbone, contributing significantly to exports and employment. The government has long recognised that a return to this model could help diversify the economy, reduce unemployment, and decrease the over-reliance on oil.

In recent years, agriculture has been identified as a critical sector in various economic policies, such as the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) and the Green Alternative plan, both by the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

These policies are aimed at increasing food production, reducing food imports, and expanding Nigeria’s agricultural exports. However, despite these strategies, insecurity continues to threaten the success of such programmes.

Activities of herdsmen and impact on agriculture

A report by SBM Intelligence, an Africa-focused market and security intelligence consultancy, says over 1,356 farmers in northern Nigeria have lost their lives to banditry attacks between 2020 and 2024.

One of the most significant threats to agriculture in Nigeria is the violent clashes between herdsmen and farmers. This conflict, rooted in competition for land and resources, has escalated in recent years, leading to widespread violence, displacement, and destruction of farmlands.

Herdsmen, often armed, have invaded farmlands across the country, particularly in the North-Central and Southern regions.

These attacks have forced many farmers to abandon their fields, leaving large tracts of farmland uncultivated.

In states like Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau; Nigeria’s food-belt, parts of the South West, South-South and South East, farmers live in constant fear of being attacked or displaced by herdsmen who graze their cattle on crops, destroying farmland and livelihoods.

The attacks have resulted in numerous deaths, loss of crops, and displacement of entire communities.

For instance, in Benue State—widely regarded as the “food basket of the nation”—herdsmen violence has caused massive displacement, severely affecting food production.

According to reports, thousands of farmers have been displaced from their ancestral homes. This not only disrupts the farming cycle but also leads to a reduction in food supply, which contributes to inflation and food insecurity.

Also, the fear of attacks has prevented farmers from returning to their land, leading to a significant decrease in crop yields.

The loss of these farmlands has directly affected Nigeria’s efforts to boost agricultural production, leaving a gap in the country’s food supply chain.

In regions where agriculture is the primary economic activity, this disruption has led to poverty, loss of income, and a sharp decline in agricultural productivity.