The impact of militancy on SMEs in developing countries: a case of the Niger Delta of Nigeria

This study aims at understanding the impact of militancy on SMEs in developing countries with the Niger Delta conflict as a case in point. The study was conducted using a qualitative methodology involving in-depth, semi-structured interviews in eight case study companies and four key informants. The findings suggest that violent agitations have resulted in severe adverse impact such as closures, loss of business opportunities, insecurity and disruptions on oil and gas related SMEs as well as other generic groups of SMEs in the area. The costs of the conflict varied according to business size and sector. The findings also suggest that SMEs responded indirectly to the violent conflict, collaborating with other organisations and other SMEs rather than working alone. The study contributes to the argument that there is a significant association between economic growth and development and the reduction of violent conflict. The implications of these findings along with the limitations of the study are discussed.

Permission granted on 25/04/17, by the ISBE (http://isbe.org.uk/) to make the full text of the conference paper available in the Middlesex University Research Repository.