IMPACT OF INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT ON HUMAN SECURITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Jallo Lois Apollos
Volume 11 Issue 1

Abstract

The investigated the impact of internal displacement on human security and economic growth in Plateau State. Descriptive survey design was used as a guide. A target population of 3,317,200 participants from 10 LGAs was considered, out of a sample of 357 respondents was selected using simple random and stratified sampling techniques. Self-design structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. Face and construct validity of the questionnaire was determined by experts and its reliability of internal consistency was ascertained using Cronbach Alpha Technique. Face-to-face administration of the questionnaire revealed that 350 copies were filled and returned. Mean, standard deviation and Spearman Rankc Correlation were used as methods of data analysis. The findings revealed that land grabbing and forced evictions of locals, unknown gunmen attacks, herders-farmers conflicts and infiltration of terrorist groups were causes of internal displacement. The results showed that internal displacement causes phycological stress and traumatic conditions, makes children access to schooling difficult, it limits access to food and clean water and exposes women and girls to sexual abuse and exploitation. It was found that internal displacement reduces the supply of raw materials, reduction in tax revenue, decline in investors’ confidence to invest, loss of households’ income/livelihoods, disruption of agricultural activities and causes economic inequality. The study concluded that internal displacement has significant negative impact on human security and economic growth and recommended that government should sustain is awareness campaigns on the need for tolerance and security consciousness in communities, drivers of internal displacement should be timely addressed, and government should access to economic resources for victims of internal displacement in order to reduce the impact of internal displacement on human security and economic growth in Plateau State. Keywords: Displacement, Internal Displacement, Human Security, Economic Growth

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