ASSESSMENT OF COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES AT THE MAIRI AND FORI JUNCTIONS IN MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

For donkeys of years now, Mairi and fori junctions in Maiduguri urban has been faced with security challenges which were believed to have negatively affected the growth and expansion of the city, hence the need for proper assessment of the commercial activities. The study adopted the descriptive survey method as the methodology of the study. The researcher randomly select 300 commercial and retail business in Mairi and Fori junctions in Maiduguri as the population of the study. The graphical and percentage method was adopted as the method of data analysis and chi-square statistics was used to test the hypotheses with the aid of SPSS statistical software version 21. The result so far indicates that the adverse economic situation of the country has forced the operators of business in this region into hideout, and not the interest of meeting the demand created by inadequate transport facilities. In a nutshell, the activity is worth engaging in and is on a par with other economic activities.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

The security situation has continued to deteriorate across the North East region of Nigeria, namely the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States (BAY) (Sedeke 2020). Although the Nigerian Armed Forces, allies from the neighbouring countries that make up the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and local vigilantes (CJTF) have made significant efforts and territorial gains against both factions of the so-called Boko Haram  (i.e.), it is continuing as major threat to the local populations and traders in Mairi and Forji junctions and communities in Maiduguri(Oladayo, 2014). Compared to recent years, insurgent activity throughout 2019 has notably risen. The ECHO 2020 HIP estimates that over 2 million internally displaced people (IDPs) are in Northeast Nigeria, which is an increase of 150,000 in 2019.The main affected state continues to be Borno State (2018: 1,441,635 IDPs), followed by Adamawa State (2018: 183,570 IDPs). ECHO HIP 2020 outlined how children coming from hard-to-reach areas presented Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) levels as high as 33%.

 

The northeast region is characterized by complex displacement. Local authorities have forcibly moved people to Local Government Areas’ (LGA) headquarter towns instead of their areas of origin for security reasons. Jere LGAs have become overcrowded and incapable of servicing these populations with basic facilities; people have little access to land and basic needs remain unmet, leaving the most vulnerable populations in need of rapid life-saving emergency assistance. Mairi and Fori Junction has become a major venue to commercial activities in Maiduguri and most of the affected people seek refuge in crowded urban centres or newly accessible LGAs in search of livelihoods and safety, increasing competition for basic services between displaced and host communities. The conflict has disrupted livelihoods, including smallholder irrigation schemes initiated to promote agricultural productivity and resilience and community cooperatives that used to operate such irrigation schemes. Many households have few income-generating opportunities and remained highly dependent on assistance in 2019. For 2020, the humanitarian community was expecting that freedom of movement will become increasingly difficult, as the military has recently implemented the ‘super camps’ strategy. But in 2020, another factor, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) provoking a pandemic, it has reached Nigeria impacting the existing humanitarian crisis. The Government of Nigeria has closed all land borders, all major markets across the country, and limited social activities, which has restricted commercial activities and income opportunities. In some markets only food or medicine may be sold. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control reported 135 confirmed COVID-19 cases on March 31. So far, limited impact on poor households’ abilities to access food have been noted. However, the cpronavirus pandemic has not totally crumble commercial activities in Jere LGA with emphasis on Mairi and Fori junction in Maiduguri in Borno state.

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Borno State has borne the brunt of the insecurity due to the activities of Boko Haram insurgency which has led to the loss of many lives. This has affected local economy such as meat, tea, akara, vendors who earn a living on a daily basis in Mairi and Fori junction in Maiduguri Metropolis. Loss of man hours due to shortened working hours has become the order of the day, and this is likely to take its toil on livelihood in Mairi and Fori junction in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. Previous studies on effect of insecurity such as the research by Okechukwu (2011)on the challenges of insecurity in Nigeria, Adeleke, (2013) Insecurity a threat to human existence and economic development in Nigeria and the research by Wantana (2013) on the effect of insecurity on socio-political development of Borno State unpublished project have not considered economic consequences in terms of crop production, livestock and fishing and commercial activities as it affect livelihood particularly in Mairi and Fori junction in Maiduguri Metropolis. It is conventional wisdom that there can be no development without peace. It is against the backdrop of these identified problems and gap in knowledge that the effects of insecurity on commercial activities in Mairi and Fori junction in Maiduguri Metropolis is conducted.

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study has one objective which is sub-divided into general and apecific objective. The general objective is to focus on the assessment of commercial activities at the Mairi and Fori junction in Maiduguri. The specific objectives are;

1. To examine the effect of insecurity on the commercial activities in Mairi and Fori junction
2. To ascertain if there is any significant relationship between Boko Haram insurgency activities and commercial activities in Mairi and Fori junction in Maiduguri

• To ascertain the role of government in ensuring normalcy in commercial activities in Maiduguri Borno state

1. To examine impact of insecurity on the commercial activities in Mair and Fori junction in Maiduguri
   • RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study

1. Does insecurity have any impact on the commercial activities in Mairi and Fori junction?
2. Is there any significant relationship between Boko Haram insurgency activities and commercial activities in Mairi and Fori junction in Maiduguri?

• Does government play any role in ensuring normalcy in commercial activities in Maiduguri Borno state?

1. Does insecurity have any impact on the commercial activities in Mair and Fori junction in Maiduguri
   • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;

H₀: There is no significant relationship between Boko Haram insurgency activities and commercial activities in Mairi and Fori junction in Maiduguri

H₁: There is a significant relationship between Boko Haram insurgency activities and commercial activities in Mairi and Fori junction in Maiduguri

H₀: government does not play any role in ensuring normalcy in commercial activities in Maiduguri Borno state

H₂: government does play a role in ensuring normalcy in commercial activities in Maiduguri Borno state

• SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings of the study will be of great importance to the local government management of Jere local government as the findings of the study will help in policy formulation to curb insurgency so as to restore normalcy to commercial activities in the study area. The study will also be useful to researcher who intend to embark on a study in a similar topic as the study will serve as a pathfinder to further studies. Finally the study will be of great importance to researchers, academia’s, teachers, lecturers, student and the general public as the findings of this study will add to the pool of existing literature and also contribute to knowledge on the subject matter.

• SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers an assessment of commercial activities at the Mairi and Fori junctions in Maiduguri Borno state. In the course of the study there are some factors that limit the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Commercial activities

Commercial activity is an activity intended for exchange in the market with the goal of earning an economic profit.

Insurgency

An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion against authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents

Boko Haram

Boko Haram, officially known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, and Wilāyat Garb Ifrīqīyā, meaning “West African Province”, is a jihadist terrorist organization based in northeastern Nigeria, which is also active in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon

 

1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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