Perceived effect of conflict on livelihood activities of rural dwellers in Yewa area of Ogun State, Nigeria

Conflict is inevitable. It characterises the dynamics of human interaction and as such, seen as a universal phenomenon that occurs between individuals, groups within the social system which could emerge to overall livelihood failures. Hence, this study determined the effect of conflict on rural livelihood activities in Yewa area of Ogun-state. One hundred and fifty respondents were randomly selected and interviewed for the study. Both descriptive (Personal characteristics, Causes of conflict, Adaptation strategy, Pre and post conflict livelihood activities and perceived effect of conflict on livelihood activities) and inferential statistics (Chi-square, PPMC and T-test) were used to summarize and analyse data collected. Results revealed that majority (72.7%) of the respondents were married with mean age of 33 years, indigenes (84.7%), had formal education (68.0%),, had farming (52.0%) as their primary income generating activity.. Creation of local government area was ranked 1st as causes of conflict. The livelihood activity of the respondents in the pre and post conflict was mostly crop production. Majority (64.0%) had high perceived effect of conflict on the livelihood activities while migration (90.7%) was the main post-conflict adaptation strategy. Significant relationship existed between educational attainment (χ2= 49.267, p=0.000), main occupation (χ2= 325.630, p=0.001), and perceived effect of conflict on livelihood activities of respondents. Also, there was a significant correlation between age (r= 0.927, p=0.000), and perceived effect of conflict on livelihood activities. Furthermore, significant difference existed between the rural dwellers pre and post conflicts perceived effect on livelihood activities (t= 2.238, p=0.027). It is concluded that conflict had effect on farmers livelihood activities since migration displaced them from their residents which could have affected the activities they were engaged in before conflict period. It is therefore recommended that creative, participatory and sustainable approaches should be employed in resolving emerging conflict towards earning better livelihood through diversification.