Impact of Demographic Characteristics on Nomadic Pastoralists/Farmers Conflict in North Central Nigeria

This study examined the impact of population dynamics, socioeconomic characteristics and environmental changes on nomadic pastoralist/farmers conflicts in North Central Nigeria. A survey design was adopted, questionnaires were administered to 796 respondents as a population sample of which 63% were farmers and 37% were nomadic pastoralists. The survey yielded a response rate of 78.5%. Using descriptive statistics for data analysis, the study found that immigration, urbanization and fecundity rate were identified population dynamics that played a significant role in nomadic pastoralist and farmers’ conflicts; the study also identified income level, indigenization, ethnic identity, religion, educational level and land ownership as the major socioeconomic characteristics that caused nomadic pastoralists/farmers’ conflict; while climate change, deforestation, drought, change in ecosystem and flooding were environmental changes that constituted major impacts on nomadic pastoralist/farmers. Generally, the study concluded that destruction of properties, loss of innocent lives and the growing cases of humanitarian crises are major consequences of the conflict. The deduction, therefore, is that from nomadic pastoralists’ perspective, blockage of grazing and water routes need to be addressed; and from the farmers’ perspective, addressing the problem of encroachment on farmlands and crops will play an important role. As a result, the study concluded that active and serious government participation in the form of grazing lanes or ranches in the regions would boost productivity and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 2, and 6, which emphasize the need to adequately ensure food security and sustainable management of resources for the teaming population.