Political economy of sub-national fragility and armed conflict in Northwest Nigeria

Insecurity in Nigeria’s Northwest region is fast deteriorating due to armed conflict emanating from the activities of jihadist terrorist groups, armed bandits, and other organised criminal gangs. This has claimed the lives of thousands, and displaced many others, resulting in a humanitarian crisis. While previous studies have highlighted the triggers and drivers of armed conflict in fragile states such as poverty, inequality, unemployment, poor governance, weak institutions, and climate change to mention a few, as well as the important role of the nation-state in providing safety and security for its citizens, little attention has been given to the relationship between sub-national fragility and armed conflict. This research draws attention to the less obvious ‘hidden enablers’ of armed conflict within the context of sub-national fragility, and how it inhibits their institutional capacities to guarantee the social welfare and security of their citizens. The absence of which contributes to the deteriorating insecurity situation in Nigeria’s troubled Northwest region. These include the debt crisis and declining internally generated revenue affecting the sub-national states. The research therefore advances the argument on sub-national fragility, by examining how it contributes to manifestations of armed conflict, and its implications for peace and security in Nigeria’s Northwest region.