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Volume 5, Issue 1, 2026
Open Access
Research article
Developing a Road Exposure Index for Herder–Farmer Conflicts in Nigeria’s Nomadic Pastoral Corridors
winner opemipo abiodun ,
sodiq olusegun buhari ,
ayodele adekunle faiyetole
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Available online: 03-25-2026

Abstract

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This study evaluates the spatial exposure of road infrastructure and road users to nomadic herder–farmer conflicts (HFCs) in Nigeria, focusing on four critical nomadic pastoral corridors (NPCs): Kaduna–Plateau (North West–North Central, NW–NC), Taraba–Benue (North East–North Central, NE–NC), Nasarawa–Benue (North Central–North Central, NC–NC), and Benue–Enugu (North Central–South East, NC–SE). Using geospatial data, the study develops a Road Exposure Index (REI) by integrating road density, population density, and conflict density across local government areas within these NPCs. Kernel density estimation (KDE) was applied in ArcGIS to visualize the spatial distribution of REI values and identify areas of heightened exposure during HFC-affected years. The results reveal substantial variations in REI across the corridors, with tertiary roads in the Benue–Enugu (NC–SE) and Nasarawa–Benue (NC–NC) corridors showing particularly high levels of exposure. These areas are important because they include major food-producing zones, suggesting that HFC-related road exposure may have implications for food accessibility and rural–urban market connectivity. The findings highlight the need for targeted intelligent transport system (ITS) infrastructure and security interventions to improve road monitoring, enhance transport resilience, and reduce mobility risks in conflict-affected corridors in Nigeria.

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