Kashere Journal of Politics and International Relations

A Critical Analysis of the Implications of Farmers-Herders Conflict in Benue and Plateau State, Nigeria

2026-02-16T03:15:44+00:00

The persistent conflict between farmers and herders in Benue and Plateau States has evolved into a major threat to human security, food stability, and communal coexistence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt region. This study critically analyses the root causes, dynamics, and far-reaching implications of the conflict. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative data, the research examines how environmental degradation, resource competition, weak policy implementation, ethnic tensions, and the proliferation of small arms have exacerbated violence between agrarian and pastoralist communities. The study finds that the conflict has led to widespread displacement, loss of lives and livelihoods, disruptions in agricultural productivity, and a deepening of inter-group distrust. It also highlights the socio-political consequences of the crisis, including governance challenges and the strain on state security apparatuses. The paper concludes by evaluating current mitigation strategies and recommending more inclusive, community-based conflict resolution mechanisms, strengthened security presence, and sustainable land-use policies. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, stakeholders, and development actors aiming to foster peace and socio-economic resilience in the affected states.

Performance Appraisal and Employees Productivity: A Study of Oke-Ogun Polytechnic Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria

2026-02-27T03:59:24+00:00

study aims at investigating the effectiveness of the performance appraisal system at The Oke-Ogun Polytechnics Saki, with particular focus on how evaluation criteria, feedback, and linkage between appraisals and rewards affect employee motivation and productivity. To achieve its objectives of examining the effect of performance appraisal on workers’ productivity and how the employee reward system associated with performance appraisal influences employee productivity in the polytechnic, the study deployed the use of survey questionnaire to elicit quantitative data from 236 respondents across the institution. Findings reveal that performance appraisal has a statistically significant and positive effect on workers’ productivity at The Oke-Ogun Polytechnics Saki; and that employees who received regular feedback through appraisal sessions demonstrated higher engagement levels and task performance The study therefore concludes that an effective performance appraisal system serves as a critical driver of employee productivity, as reward systems associated with performance appraisal play a decisive role in improving performance outcomes. It recommends that the management of the Polytechnic should institutionalize a structured, transparent, and regular appraisal process which involves continuous monitoring and timely feedback. The study equally suggests that the management should introduce digital platform that has the capacity of automating record.

Impact of Performance Appraisal on Employee Productivity in Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria

2026-02-26T14:25:43+00:00

This paper investigates the effect of performance appraisal on employee productivity in the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN). Despite the existence of appraisal mechanisms put in place at the institute, issues such as inconsistency, weak feedback systems, and lack of reward linkage continue to hinder employees’ performance. Using quantitative primary data generated via survey questionnaire, supported with empirical evidence, the study analytically construct an empirical relationship between performance appraisal and employee productivity. Findings indicate that a strong, positive, and significant relationship exists between both performance appraisal and employees’ productivity at the institute . The study concludes that a good performance appraisal system to a great extent improves employee productivity. It recommends that the institute should strengthen its appraisal process through standardization, feedback enhancement, and technology-driven systems.

US–China Trade War under Donald Trump 2017–2021: Trade Substitution Opportunities for Nigeria?

2026-02-16T04:09:22+00:00

This study interrogates the reverberations of the US-China trade war on developing economies, with specific reference to the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria. While the US-China trade war is ongoing and becoming more intensified, concerns have been raised concerning the nature and dynamics of the trade war, the current and potential effects it has on both countries and the global economy - due to the importance of trade liberalization to global economic integration. Studies reveal that the trade war has changed the pattern of trade of many countries, especially in Asia, taking trade substitution as an alternative pathway to benefit from the trade war. Within the context of trade substitution as a viable opportunistic method, operationalized within the framework of securitization and competitive advantage theories, this study analyzes the extent of such in developing economies of Africa, in tandem with the factor of trade influence on economic development in terms of GDP. Through the use of textual data and thematical analysis, this study submits that China and the United States are key drivers in the global economy; the African economy is relatively affected by the US-China trade war; effects of the trade war is reflected in the pattern of Nigeria’s import and export; Nigeria can take more advantage of US-China trade substitution. Also, there is a need for Nigeria to make production-oriented economic policies in order to position Africa among the global supply chain to mitigate the trade war effects as they intensify.

Workforce Diversity and Organizational Performance in Higher Education Institutions: Evidence from IBB University, Lapai

2026-01-14T06:21:16+00:00

This research explored how having a diverse workforce affected worker performance at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai. The study particularly aimed to investigate how gender diversity, age diversity, ethnic diversity and educational background diversity impacts performance. The university staff members had a total population of the study equal to 1450. A total of 345 respondents became the sample that was determined using Yamane’s formula and stratified random sampling. This was to ensure that both academic and non-academic staffs were represented. The research utilized a survey design, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The study outcome shows that gender diversity, ethnics’ diversity, and education background diversity positively and significantly affect employee performance. This indicates that gender diversity, ethnic diversity and educational background diversity lead to more creativity and more productivity. However, functional diversity based on age does not lead to a significant increase in performance in University. Workforce diversity is a fundamental driver of institutional performance when properly managed. The management is advised to sustain their endeavor to endorse gender equality, ethnic diversity, educational diversity, and mentorship programs, and further optimize age diversity with a view to attaining utmost performance

Impact of Leadership Styles on Disaster Response in Nigeria

2026-02-27T03:39:26+00:00

Nigeria faces a complex, multi-hazard environment where the increasing frequency of disasters such as the nationwide floods in 2012 and 2024, building collapses, and disease outbreaks has revealed critical vulnerabilities within the nation’s emergency management framework. Although institutional structures like the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agencies exist, the effectiveness of disaster response remains inconsistent due to varying leadership approaches. This study examines the impact of different leadership styles on disaster response effectiveness in Nigeria, with the goal of identifying practices that enhance coordination and bolster community resilience. Utilising a qualitative research design, the study conducted ten KIIs with experts from NEMA, SEMA and pertinent ministries. The findings suggest that transformational and participatory leadership styles promote essential horizontal coordination, trust-building and rapid resource mobilisation. These approaches proved instrumental in successful interventions, such as the containment of Ebola in Lagos in 2014 and the response to the market fire in Jos in 2018. In contrast, the study emphasizes that rigid, top-down, or transactional leadership often leads to bureaucratic bottlenecks, restricted information flow, and “turf battles” among agencies. Such leadership shortcomings were particularly evident during the 2012 and 2024 floods, where delayed warnings and inadequate inter-agency alignment exacerbated both human and economic suffering. The research concludes that for Nigeria to enhance its disaster governance, a shift away from command-and-control models towards inclusive, adaptive, and collaborative strategies is essential. This transition is vital for building sustainable community trust and ensuring a more efficient and coordinated response to future emergencies.

Agricultural Mechanization as a Driver of Food Security: Insights from Benue and Niger States, Nigeria

2026-02-25T10:43:53+00:00

Agricultural mechanisation continues to remain within the realm of imagination of larger population of Nigeria farmers, despite huge budgetary outlays on mechanisation, machinery, financial disbursement, and trainings. The failure of attaining agriculture mechanisation amidst food insecurity calls for academic concern. This study engaged Resouce Based Theory to investigate agricultural mechanization as a driver of food security with insights from Benue and Niger States, Nigeria. The study adopts survey research design. The population of the study; Benue and Niger states totals 12,924,600 and this being a large and finite population, hence this study employed scientific sampling technique determination of Krejcie and Morgan (1970) to arrive at a sample size of 384. The study utilized primary data source elicited from a structured five Likert scale questionnaire. While descriptive statistics was used to check the influence of Agricultural mechanization as a driver of food security: Insights from Benue and Niger States, Nigeria. Findings from this study revealed that agriculture mechanisation is outside the reach of most farmers whose productivity is still connected with drudgery, sheer labour, and largely classified as small placeholder farmers. Findings from the study also establish that mechanisation strategies as seen by government and her agencies has not yet established direct link to the real farming communities for training, sensitisation, financial disbursement, and equipment distribution. Based on these findings, the study recommends that Benue and Niger States government should get farming communities buy-in on agriculture mechanisation, which could lead to community ownership.