Forest resource management and agribusiness development in Nigeria: A systematic review of implications for national security and rural livelihoods

Abstract

Forest resources in Nigeria support rural livelihoods and forest-based economic activities, but their contribution is increasingly affected by forest degradation, weak governance, illegal exploitation, and insecurity. This systematic review, therefore, synthesizes evidence on the relationships between forest resource management and agribusiness development in Nigeria, with particular attention to their implications for rural livelihoods and national security. A systematic literature search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, supplemented by relevant policy and institutional sources. Searches covered the period of 2010-2025. Studies were screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the selection process was reported in accordance with PRISMA 2020. Findings show that non-timber forest products (NTFPs), agroforestry, and other forest-based activities contribute to household income diversification, employment, food security, and livelihood resilience in rural Nigeria. However, these benefits are constrained by weak institutional coordination, inadequate enforcement, illegal logging, limited market access, and other governance deficiencies. In parallel, evidence indicates that poorly governed forest areas can become vulnerable to illicit resource exploitation and criminal activities. Based on the above, the study concluded that strengthening forest governance and enforcement, improving market and value-chain conditions, and institutionalizing meaningful community participation can contribute to rural livelihood resilience and agribusiness development. Keywords: agroforestry, forest ecosystems, non-timber forest products (NTFPs), insecurity, Nigeria