Rebuilding local economies can help defeat Boko Haram

A research paper by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) examines how the Boko Haram conflict and government counter-insurgency measures have devastated local economies in the Lake Chad Basin, arguing that rebuilding these livelihoods is essential to defeating the insurgency.

• The Lake Chad Basin possessed a thriving economy based on fishing, agro-pastoral activities, and a vibrant transborder trade sector prior to the conflict. This economic stability was undermined by the appropriation of activities by Boko Haram, facilitated by the region's pre-existing socio-economic marginalisation and the uneven presence of government services.
• Boko Haram has directly crippled local livelihoods by destroying farms, murdering or displacing fishers to create no-go zones, and looting markets, which led to trader bankruptcy and the disruption of traders' unions and access to credit. Additionally, the threat of attacks has made major trading routes inaccessible or costly.
• Government counter-terrorism measures have inadvertently harmed the local economy. These include the closure of markets to block extremists, which hurt innocent traders, and the abuse of police and military checkpoints by officials who extorted merchants and transport providers. Initial bans on trading goods like fish and peppers also caused revenues to plummet.
• Women have suffered disproportionately due to the conflict, as they were already marginalised by gender norms and operated on a smaller retail scale. The crisis increased their vulnerability to economic shocks and exposed them to sexual and other forms of exploitation.
• Economic desperation has led to various coping strategies: some residents have transitioned to a precarious 'NGO economy' as employees or contractors, while others have resorted to 'negative coping strategies,' such as paying taxes to Boko Haram or selling intelligence and providing logistics to the group to maintain trade.
• To sustainably recover, the region requires the securing of farms, markets, and transport routes, as well as low-cost or interest-free credit. The ISS recommends curbing government extortion, reviewing business taxes, and providing upskilling for the services economy (hospitality, logistics, and business services) to supplement the dominant farming and fishing sectors.

APA

Tayo, T., & Hoinathy, R. (n.d.). Rebuilding local economies can help defeat Boko Haram. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/rebuilding-local-economies-can-help-defeat-boko-haram

Chicago

Tayo, Teniola, and Remadji Hoinathy. Rebuilding local economies can help defeat Boko Haram. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/rebuilding-local-economies-can-help-defeat-boko-haram.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tayo |first1=Teniola |last2=Hoinathy |first2=Remadji |title=Rebuilding local economies can help defeat Boko Haram |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/rebuilding-local-economies-can-help-defeat-boko-haram |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tayondrebuilding, author = {Tayo, Teniola and Hoinathy, Remadji}, title = {{Rebuilding local economies can help defeat Boko Haram}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/rebuilding-local-economies-can-help-defeat-boko-haram}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }