Migration as an adaptation strategy to climate change - the northern Nigeria context

Tiwo, Akinsanmi Richard Ralph

Abstract

Climate change adverse effects lead to the displacement of populations and migration-used as an adaptation strategy. The negative impact is pronounced in that institutions tasked with the control and safeguarding of humans affected, and their security lacks the capacity, leading to mass migration to the transit and receiving areas, resulting in resource contestations aggravating conflict among groups. Therefore, this study examines the migration process as an adaptation strategy and the implications for 'sending,' 'transit,' and 'receiving' areas, focusing on a case study in Nigeria. The empirical findings highlighted how the drivers of existing migration streams are sensitive to climate change in Nigeria by relying on NVivo-assisted qualitative analysis of twelve in-depth interviews, combined with two Focus Group discussions (FGDs) conducted in Nogoa, Makurdi, Benue state, Nigeria, incorporating policy analysis, producing novel conceptual insights into the intertwining of climate change, migration and adaptive capacity of people, illustrating that climate change cause migration of people to the southern parts less affected by the adverse effects of climate change, which can impinge on resources, water and land. Although other studies have investigated this phenomenon, Nigeria remains less studied. As such, this study delves deeper into the Nigerian context and offers a robust and multidisciplinary investigation of climate change-induced internal migration as an adaptation strategy, offering a meaningful understanding of individual behaviours/decision-making concerning migration using conceptual frameworks. Adopting the contextualisation paradigm, I examined environmental and socio-contextual factors in migration systems of individuals, households, and pastoralists from the sending region-north to transit and destination area-south, transforming to conflict destabilising the relative peace of Nigeria. From a theoretical perspective, I espouse and apply Sustainable Livelihood, Eco-Violence, and Frustration Aggression theoretical frameworks to investigate/establish the displacement of populations and climate induced-internal migration as an adaptation strategy in Nigeria, which my findings ultimately help reshape our understanding.

Citation

Tiwo, A. R. R. Migration as an adaptation strategy to climate change - the northern Nigeria context. (Thesis). Keele University. https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1109361

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Mar 20, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 20, 2025
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1109361
• Award Date: 2025-03