Nigeria’s long-running land conflicts are no longer confined to remote villages or boundary disagreements between neighbouring communities. They are now shaping food prices, disrupting supply chains, displacing traders, and threatening the stability of the country’s food system, according to a March 2026 report by SBM Intelligence. The report, An Analysis of Land Disputes and Their Impact on Food Security in Nigeria, paints a picture of a nationwide crisis in which disputes over land ownership increasingly translate into violence, economic losses, and rising insecurity in both rural and urban markets.
Researchers documented at least 54 violent incidents linked to land conflicts between October 2019 and January 2026, resulting in no fewer than 112 confirmed deaths. These incidents were recorded across multiple regions of the country, showing that the problem is not isolated to any single zone. To understand the broader economic consequences, the study also surveyed 209 traders and vendors across nine major cities representing all six geopolitical zones. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they had directly experienced the effects of land disputes on their businesses, either through supply shortages, rising transport costs, or the displacement of farmers and suppliers.
At the centre of the crisis is Nigeria’s 1978 Land Use Act, a law that placed all land under the control of state governors in an attempt to simplify ownership and make land administration easier. Over time, however, the law has become one of the main sources of conflict. Because it does not clearly define communal or family ownership, competing claims to land are common, and disputes can last for decades. In many cases, communities rely on traditional boundaries that are not formally documented, making it difficult for courts or government authorities to settle disagreements before they escalate. According to the report, this uncertainty has created an environment in which land disputes frequently turn violent, particularly during farming seasons when access to land becomes most critical.
One such example occurred in January 2026 in Niger State, where a long-running boundary dispute between neighbouring communities led to a deadly clash that left two farmers dead. Investigations showed that the conflict was triggered by disagreements over where farmland boundaries lay, but the deeper cause was the absence of clear demarcation and weak security presence in the area. Similar incidents have been recorded across the country, from Delta State in the South-South to Ebonyi in the South-East and Benue in the North-Central region, underscoring the national scale of the problem.
While the violence itself often occurs in rural areas, the economic effects are most visible in Nigeria’s markets. Traders interviewed for the report described how land disputes in farming communities quickly lead to shortages, higher transport costs, and price increases in urban centres. Abuja, which serves as a major distribution hub for agricultural produce, recorded the highest level of supply-chain disruption in the survey.
Many traders there said they experienced delays or price increases frequently, largely because goods arriving in the capital often originate from conflict-affected areas in the Middle Belt and surrounding states. When farmers are unable to harvest safely or transporters avoid dangerous roads, the impact is felt immediately in the markets.
In the South-West, the report found near-universal exposure to the effects of land disputes, but for different reasons in different cities. In Ibadan, traders reported severe supply disruptions linked to insecurity in farming communities, with every respondent saying they had been affected in some way. In Lagos, by contrast, the main concern was not farm conflict but insecurity over urban land itself. Traders described constant fear of eviction, demolition, or disputes over market spaces, reflecting intense pressure on land in the country’s largest city. The result is a different form of instability, one in which the economy continues to function but the people who keep markets running feel permanently at risk of losing their livelihoods.
Northern markets face their own challenges. In Kano, traders reported frequent disruptions linked to farmer-herder clashes and other rural conflicts that make supply unpredictable. In Bauchi, markets appeared more stable, but respondents still expressed concern about security and said improvements in protection for farming communities were the most urgent need.
In the South-South, cities such as Port Harcourt and Calabar showed moderate disruption but slightly higher confidence in local authorities, suggesting that stronger institutions can reduce the economic impact of disputes even when conflicts still occur.
Across all regions, the survey revealed a deep lack of confidence in the ability of government or traditional authorities to resolve land disputes before they turn violent. On average, respondents rated the effectiveness of authorities just above the midpoint on a four-point scale, with many saying conflicts drag on for years without resolution. This lack of trust often leads communities to take matters into their own hands, creating cycles of retaliation that make reconciliation increasingly difficult. In several recorded incidents, security forces themselves were attacked while trying to intervene, a sign that disputes have grown beyond the control of local peacekeeping structures.
The economic consequences extend far beyond the immediate areas where violence occurs. Traders reported higher purchase prices from suppliers, increased transport costs due to unsafe roads, loss of income when markets close, and difficulty recovering debts from customers affected by conflict. These pressures accumulate across the supply chain. When farmers cannot access their land, production falls. When transport becomes dangerous, costs rise. When traders pay more for goods, prices increase for consumers. When consumers cannot afford higher prices, demand falls, and incomes shrink. According to the report, this cycle creates a slow but persistent contraction in the food economy that affects the entire country.
Researchers warn that without major reforms, the situation is likely to worsen. They argue that resolving Nigeria’s land crisis will require more than security deployments. It will also require clearer land ownership laws, faster court processes, better boundary demarcation, and stronger cooperation between federal, state, and traditional authorities. Reforming the Land Use Act is seen as particularly important, as its centralised structure has created uncertainty that fuels many of the disputes in the first place.
The report concludes that land disputes are no longer just rural security problems but a national economic threat. The 112 recorded deaths represent the most visible cost, but the wider impact is felt in markets, food prices, and the daily lives of millions of Nigerians who depend on stable supply chains. Until the underlying causes of these conflicts are addressed, the study warns, the country’s food security will remain vulnerable to arguments over the earth beneath its feet.