UNICEF says decade-long insurgency in Northeastern Nigeria, crippled livelihoods, cut incomes, and left thousands of children in need of skills and protection.
The United Nations has estimated that Nigeria has lost about $10 billion over the past decade due to the ongoing conflict in the country’s northeast, warning that the prolonged violence continues to devastate families, the economy, and children’s futures.
The figure was revealed by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed, during the launch of a new socio-economic reintegration program for children affected by armed conflict in Maiduguri, Borno State. She said the toll of insurgency in the region had extended far beyond security challenges, eroding incomes and economic opportunities for millions.
“According to a 2024 study commissioned by UNICEF, the economic cost of conflict in North-East Nigeria has reached a staggering $10 billion over the last ten years,” Saeed said, in remarks delivered by UNICEF Child Protection Manager Shah Mohammad Khan.
She added that the conflict has “crippled the income and earning potential of families and young people,” noting that many children — especially girls — have been deprived of education, skills, and hope for a better future.
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The northeast has endured more than a decade of violence, largely driven by the Boko Haram insurgency and its offshoots, which have displaced millions and caused widespread humanitarian suffering. UNICEF estimates that children have borne the brunt of the crisis, facing abductions, sexual violence, and a lack of access to education.
To address the long-term consequences of the conflict, UNICEF has launched a socio-economic reintegration program targeting children and adolescents affected by the violence. The initiative provides vocational training, child protection services, and psychosocial support.
“Currently, 1,033 children — 567 boys and 466 girls — are receiving training in tailoring, ICT, automobile repair, shoemaking, and carpentry across Maiduguri, Bama, Biu, Damboa, and Konduga,” Saeed said.
She explained that the program aims to equip children with “market-driven skills” that can help them rebuild their lives and contribute to peace and recovery within their communities. Graduates will receive formal certification to enhance their employment prospects.
“These centers restore not just learning, but also hope, dignity, and opportunity for conflict-affected adolescents,” she added.
Borno State Commissioner for Education, Abba Wakilbe, praised UNICEF and its partner agencies — including the UN Development Program (UNDP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) — for their continued support.
“UNICEF has stood with us in some of our most difficult moments,” Wakilbe said. “This program gives our young people a chance to rebuild their lives and our state.”
