Nigeria Situation Report, 17 March 2023

HIGHLIGHTS

• US$1.3 billion required to reach 6 million people in north-east Nigeria with humanitarian assistance in 2023, an increase of 18 per cent from the 2022 funding requirements.

• More than 30 civilians killed in attack in Mukdolo village in Ngala Local Government Area, Borno State.

• Nigerians head to the polls for 2023 general election.

• Adamawa State Governor suspends the activities of local and international non-governmental organizations during election period.

• Naira cash scarcity adversely impacts vulnerable people and humanitarian cash assistance programmes and operations.

BACKGROUND

Situation Overview

Launch of the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for north-east Nigeria

The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for north-east Nigeria was launched on 16 February in Yola, Adamawa State, requesting US$1.3 billion to provide critical lifesaving assistance to 6 million people. This is an increase of 500,000 people from the 5.5 million people identified for assistance in 2022. Of the $1.3 billion required, $631 million is urgently needed for an emergency response to the 2.4 million people in acute need. Through the Humanitarian Response Plan, 120 operational partners will work in support of Government efforts to save lives, protect the most vulnerable and help affected people live safely and with dignity. The Plan, which is part of a two-year strategy for 2022-2023, prioritizes lifesaving needs while also working to reduce vulnerabilities through efforts to build resilience and enhance self-reliance. Gender dynamics are identified as one of the main causes of vulnerability and an impediment to women and girls' access to assistance. This year's plan promotes gender-responsive humanitarian actions to specifically address the challenges faced by women and girls. Additional emphasis is also placed on anticipatory action to reduce the impact of predictable humanitarian shocks in the rainy season and lean season, building on households' and communities' existing coping mechanisms.

More than 30 civilians killed in Ngala Local Government Area in Borno State

On 8 March, more than 30 civilians were killed, and several people injured in an attack reportedly carried out by a non-state armed group in Mukdolo village in Ngala Local Government Area in Borno State. The victims included both internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host community members from the neighbouring Dikwa Local Government Area. The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, issued a statement on 9 March condemning the attack. The victims were fishermen and farmers forced to venture outside the protective trenches of their settlements to eke out a livelihood in a very insecure environment. Mukdolo Village had been abandoned prior to the incident due to the activities of non-state armed groups. Mr. Schmale called on State authorities to speedily investigate the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Nigerians vote in 2023 general election

On Saturday, 25 February 2023, millions of Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new President and members of the House of Representatives and National Assembly. The 2023 general elections in Nigeria are the seventh since liberal democracy formally started in the country in 1999. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the President-elect. Opposition parties have contested the results in a supreme court petition. The elections took place against a backdrop of frustration and social unrest over cash and fuel scarcity. In Yobe State a protest was staged against INEC in Potiskum Local Government Area (LGA) which resulted government forces firing shots in the air to calm the situation and disperse the protesters. In Borno State, an indirect fire attack was launched by non-state armed groups on election day in Gwoza LGA. A fire broke out in the Maiduguri Central Market the day after the elections and a clash occurred between two groups around the Oasis roundabout, also in Borno. INEC postponed the gubernatorial and house of assembly elections, scheduled for 11 March, to 18 March, citing logistical challenges.

Suspension of NGO activities by the Governor of Adamawa State

In a statement issued on 28 February, Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri announced the suspension of the activities of local and international NGOs throughout the State until 15 March 2023 on allegations of "dabbling into politics in the name of providing humanitarian assistance to the people". With the postponement of the second round of elections to 18 March, the Adamawa State Government announced an extension of the suspension of NGOs' activities until after the election. High-level advocacy efforts are ongoing for the essential work of humanitarians to continue for the well-being and safety of all people in need in Adamawa.

Cash scarcity impacts the most vulnerable people

Throughout Nigeria, people are grappling with the challenges of growing economic hardship, characterised by spiking inflation, cash and fuel shortages. The Naira crisis, triggered by the currency redesign, has led to a cash scarcity which is likely to persist in the coming months. This is affecting the most vulnerable people---who are dependent on day-to-day cash transactions---the hardest. Households have restricted their spending to essential items only, concentrating on items which are of high value to their survival, resulting in less demand for some items in the market. The reduction in demand has seen vendors record poor sales, forcing them to lower the prices of some commodities to move them fast. Several humanitarian organizations have been forced to suspend food and health cash assistance programmes. It is not clear what the overall impact on vulnerability is, but it can be expected that it will increase.