IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/joimai/v25y2024i3d10.1007_s12134-024-01128-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Reintegration Programs and the Willingness of Displaced Persons to Return Home: Analyzing the Role of Social Infrastructure in North-East Nigeria

Author

Listed:
  • Paul O. Adekola

    (University of Geneva
    University of Medical Sciences
    University of Coimbra)

  • Giuseppe T. Cirella

    (University of Gdansk)

  • Gracie Brownell

    (Texas A&M University-Commerce)

Abstract

This study explores the impact of Boko Haram’s violence on northern Nigeria, particularly focusing on the willingness of conflict-induced internally displaced persons (CIIDPs) to return home and the role of restoring social infrastructure in this process. We employed a mixed-methods approach, collecting data from 866 randomly selected internally displaced persons (IDPs) across eight camps in North-East Nigeria and conducting focus group discussions in two of these camps. Our findings, as revealed by correlation analysis, suggest a positive albeit weak link between the restoration of social infrastructure and the willingness of IDPs to return to their homes. Specifically, the selected social infrastructure improvements accounted for a modest 3% change in the willingness to accept a voluntary return. This implies that while restoring social infrastructure plays a role, it alone is insufficient to significantly boost the willingness of IDPs in North-East Nigeria to return voluntarily. However, our regression analysis offers more nuanced insights. It indicates that restoring access to water and rebuilding access roads in affected communities can have a substantial impact on motivating CIIDPs to return home. Therefore, we conclude that while restoring social infrastructure is a factor, it should not be viewed as the sole solution for promoting willingness to return in a post-conflict context. To address the broader issue, we recommend that governments and policymakers in conflict-affected communities prioritize the restoration of water sources and access roads, as these appear to be critical factors in encouraging the return of IDPs. Additionally, further research is necessary to identify other essential needs and interventions to facilitate the return of CIIDPs to their home communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul O. Adekola & Giuseppe T. Cirella & Gracie Brownell, 2024. "Reintegration Programs and the Willingness of Displaced Persons to Return Home: Analyzing the Role of Social Infrastructure in North-East Nigeria," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 1351-1380, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:25:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s12134-024-01128-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s12134-024-01128-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12134-024-01128-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12134-024-01128-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. S. T. Abebe & A. B. Dagnew & V. G. Zeleke & G. Z. Eshetu & G. T. Cirella, 2019. "Willingness to Pay for Watershed Management," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Giuseppe T. Cirella & Felix O. Iyalomhe & Anne Jensen & Oluwole O. Akiyode, 2018. "Exploring Community of Practice in Uganda’s Public Sector: Environmental Impact Assessment Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-17, July.
    3. Felix Watang Zieba & Genesis Tambang Yengoh & Abdouraman Tom, 2017. "Seasonal Migration and Settlement around Lake Chad: Strategies for Control of Resources in an Increasingly Drying Lake," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Dercon, Stefan & Ayalew, Daniel, 1998. "Where have all the soldiers gone: Demobilization and reintegration in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 26(9), pages 1661-1675, September.
    5. Carlos Bozzoli & Tilman Brück & Tony Muhumuza, 2012. "Movers or Stayers? Understanding the Drivers of IDP Camp Decongestion during Post-Conflict Recovery in Uganda," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1197, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    6. Paul O. Adekola & Dominic E. Azuh & Emmanuel O. Amoo & Gracie Brownell & Giuseppe T. Cirella, 2022. "Economic Drivers of Voluntary Return among Conflict-Induced Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, February.
    7. Faith Osasumwen Olanrewaju & Adekunle Olanrewaju & Femi Omotoso & Joshua Olaniyi Alabi & Emmanuel Amoo & Ejiroghene Loromeke & Lady Adaina Ajayi, 2019. "Insurgency and the Invisible Displaced Population in Nigeria: A Situational Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(2), pages 21582440198, April.
    8. Johan Rockström & Malin Falkenmark, 2015. "Agriculture: Increase water harvesting in Africa," Nature, Nature, vol. 519(7543), pages 283-285, March.
    9. Vincenzo Bove & Jessica Di Salvatore & Leandro Elia, 2025. "What it Takes to Return: UN Peacekeeping and the Safe Return of Displaced People," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 69(5), pages 898-924, May.
    10. Paul Oluwatomipe Adekola & Dominic Azuh & Davies Adeloye & Emmanuel Amoo, 2019. "Urban renewal in Nigeria: a slash and burn approach?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 2165-2182, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kristina Lindvall & John Kinsman & Atakelti Abraha & Abdirisak Dalmar & Mohamed Farah Abdullahi & Hagos Godefay & Lelekoitien Lerenten Thomas & Mohamed Osman Mohamoud & Bile Khalif Mohamud & Jairus Mu, 2020. "Health Status and Health Care Needs of Drought-Related Migrants in the Horn of Africa—A Qualitative Investigation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Chesmal Siriwardhana & Anushka Adikari & Gayani Pannala & Sisira Siribaddana & Melanie Abas & Athula Sumathipala & Robert Stewart, 2013. "Prolonged Internal Displacement and Common Mental Disorders in Sri Lanka: The COMRAID Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(5), pages 1-8, May.
    3. Giuseppe T. Cirella & Alessio Russo, 2019. "Special Issue Sustainable Interdisciplinarity: Human–Nature Relations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-5, December.
    4. Mugizi, Francisco M.P. & Matsumoto, Tomoya, 2021. "From conflict to conflicts: War-induced displacement, land conflicts, and agricultural productivity in post-war Northern Uganda," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    5. Francis Oremo & Richard Mulwa & Nicholas Oguge, 2021. "Sustainable water access and willingness of smallholder irrigators to pay for on-farm water storage systems in Tsavo sub-catchment, Kenya," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 1371-1391, February.
    6. Adofu, Ilemona & Okwanya, Innocent & Adofu,Sophia Ojochogwu & Eraye, Micheal, 2024. "Land Tenure Insecurity and Agricultural Recovery: Evidence from Displaced Farmers in North-Central Nigeria," International Journal of Food and Agricultural Economics (IJFAEC), Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Department of Economics and Finance, vol. 12(3), July.
    7. Marin Kim & Yi Xie & Giuseppe T. Cirella, 2019. "Sustainable Transformative Economy: Community-Based Ecotourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-15, September.
    8. Jie Yang & Xiaohong Chen, 2019. "Quantification of the Driving Factors of Water Use in the Productive Sector Change Using Various Decomposition Methods," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 33(12), pages 4105-4121, September.
    9. Siddig, Khalid & Stepanyan, Davit & Wiebelt, Manfred & Grethe, Harald & Zhu, Tingju, 2020. "Climate change and agriculture in the Sudan: Impact pathways beyond changes in mean rainfall and temperature," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    10. Narges Banaeian & Morteza Zangeneh & Sean Clark, 2020. "Trends and Future Directions in Crop Energy Analyses: A Focus on Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-23, November.
    11. Jaime Martínez-Valderrama & Jorge Olcina & Gonzalo Delacámara & Emilio Guirado & Fernando T. Maestre, 2023. "Complex Policy Mixes are Needed to Cope with Agricultural Water Demands Under Climate Change," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(6), pages 2805-2834, May.
    12. Delaney, R.G. & Blackburn, G.A. & Whyatt, J.D. & Folkard, A.M., 2022. "SiteFinder: A geospatial scoping tool to assist the siting of external water harvesting structures," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    13. O’Reilly, Colin, 2015. "Household Recovery from Internal Displacement in Northern Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 203-215.
    14. Victoria Oluwayomi, FALUYI, 2024. "A Critical Examination of the Psychosocial Implications of Internal Displacement on Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(10), pages 867-881, October.
    15. Patrick W. Keys & Malin Falkenmark, 2018. "Green water and African sustainability," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(3), pages 537-548, June.
    16. Bisrat Ayalew Yifru & Min-Gyu Kim & Jeong-Woo Lee & Il-Hwan Kim & Sun-Woo Chang & Il-Moon Chung, 2021. "Water Storage in Dry Riverbeds of Arid and Semi-Arid Regions: Overview, Challenges, and Prospects of Sand Dam Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, May.
    17. Oluwatuyi S. Olowoyeye & Rameshwar S. Kanwar, 2023. "Water and Food Sustainability in the Riparian Countries of Lake Chad in Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-24, June.
    18. Tilman Br�ck & Patricia Justino & Philip Verwimp & Andrew Tedesco & Alexandra Avdeenko, 2013. "Measuring Conflict Exposure in Micro-Level Surveys," HiCN Working Papers 153, Households in Conflict Network.
    19. Wang, Wendi & Straffelini, Eugenio & Tarolli, Paolo, 2023. "Steep-slope viticulture: The effectiveness of micro-water storage in improving the resilience to weather extremes," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    20. Aleksandra Jadach-Sepioło & Katarzyna Olejniczak-Szuster & Michał Dziadkiewicz, 2021. "Does Environment Matter in Smart Revitalization Strategies? Management towards Sustainable Urban Regeneration Programs in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-16, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:25:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s12134-024-01128-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.