Assessment of Food Insecurity on Internally Displaced persons in Niger State and its Implications for the Niger State Government

Abstract

Food insecurity is a major problem affecting the well-being of internally displaced persons in Nigeria. In Niger state, the situation remains appalling with attendant consequences on the Internally Displaced Persons. This study investigated food insecurity and its impact on internally displaced persons in two local government areas in Niger State. Data were sourced across two local government areas of Niger state - Shiroro and Raffi local governments; identified among areas with high rate of internal displacement. Human Security Theory was adopted as the theoretical framework for this study. A total of 200 respondents made up of: Shiroro 100, and Raffi 100 respondents each who had been displaced between the year 2018 to 2021 were randomly selected, and a questionnaire was administered. Findings indicated that there is a significant relationship between food insecurity and internally displaced persons. Also, 90% of respondents in the areas complained of food insecurity resulting from the activities of banditry, kidnappings, insurgency among others. The study concluded that food insecurity has serious implications on internally displaced persons in Niger state. The study recommended that concreted efforts should be invested in information and intelligence sharing and utilization to ensure that risk factor resulting in insecurity, such as banditry, farmers herders’ conflict, kidnapping, flooding among others and its effect on food insecurity are reduced or eradicated to guarantee food security and reduction of internally displaced persons in Niger State.