Based on a recent study by the United Nations Children’s Fund, the northeastern conflict cost Nigeria $100 billion between 2008 and 2021.
The report also highlighted the dire economic downturn that violence and egregious violations against children caused, which affected not only the troubled region but the entire nation.
Even if the conflict ends now, according to the report titled “The Economic Cost of Conflict in Northeast Nigeria,” the total losses by 2030 are expected to be between $150 billion and $200 billion, with the total losses from lost educational opportunities expected to be $150 billion.
Cristian Munduate, a UNICEF representative, said the study shows that as of 2021, the Nigerian economy was 2.5% smaller than it would have been absent the conflict. He was speaking at the report’s release event in Abuja on Wednesday.
“This is more than just a collection of statistics and numbers. Nigeria’s economy shrank by 2.5% as of 2021 compared to what it would have been without the conflict, so this must be taken into account when making decisions for the country.
“However, beyond the numbers, there are tales of lives torn apart, families torn apart, and chances missed. But perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of this study is the effect on our children.
“In 2021, it was estimated that due to the conflict, one million children missed school, 900,000 children were reported to be malnourished, and close to 300,000 were reported to be suffering from acute malnutrition.”
She claims that the report serves as an urgent call to action to protect the future of the next generation.
“It is our responsibility to act, and it is morally required that we do so. Acting is necessary right away. Our nation’s economic development as well as the future of our children are at risk. To ensure a better future for Nigeria, we must prioritize peace and the defense of children’s rights.
“Every statistic in this report represents a kid, their future, and their hope. There is a strong call to action in addition to the staggering numbers. We can’t simply ignore it. Munduate continued, “The stakes are just too high.
Ibrahim Sesay, Chief Child Protection Specialist for UNICEF Nigeria, also emphasized the importance of paying attention to the lives hidden behind the numbers.
“We have over 14,890 documented and verified cases of grave violations against children in Nigeria, just from 2016 to date,” he said, referring to the serious wrongs that children have suffered. Each number stands for a tragedy that has befallen these kids and their families.
As a result, communities struggle in a time of financial hardship while children who should be in school, whose families may be uprooted from their homes, are not receiving the education they need.
The report shouldn’t be interpreted as a tale of hopelessness, but rather as a manual for how much compassion and coordinated action we should show, how to get the kids back in school, and how to devote our resources to helping the kids’ psychosocial recovery.
The governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, stated that there was a need to address both the psychological effects of the conflict on children as well as insecurity.
The northeastern conflict has a significant financial cost, but there are additional costs for the children, according to Zulum, who was represented by his chief adviser, Adamu Abass.
What are these kids trying to accomplish? In my opinion, this needs to be evaluated so that they can contribute to and fit into society. Children are the nation’s future.
“Insecurity is a significant factor in the overall conflict scenario. While we can continue to address the symptoms, doing so will amount to nothing more than waving our hands and avoiding the real issue at hand. We must deal with the causes of insurgency, he said.
