Poverty and Its Effect on Human Security in Nigeria (A Case Study of Uyo L.G.A, Akwa Ibom State)
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this study include the following:
- To give an empirical analysis of the role of poverty on insecurity.
- To examine the circumstances that make youths participate in crime.
- To find out why crime participation is high in certain areas and among certain groups in the society.
- To identify some ways in which the society can be able to tackle the problem of crimes.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Conceptualizing Poverty
Poverty is multi-dimensional. It wears a multitude of faces and has numerous dimensions. It threatens all aspects of living by depriving people of the capabilities needed to survive, develop and thrive. Poverty entrenches or widens social, economic and gender disparities that prevent people from enjoying equal opportunities and undermines protective family and community environments, leaving people affected vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, violence, discrimination and stigmatization. Poverty inhibits the capacity of families and communities to care for children and other less privilege in the society. It also poses a threat by exacerbating the effects of diseases and armed conflicts.
The United Nations convention on poverty views poverty as” a human condition, characterized by the sustained or chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights. Poverty encompasses deprivation of basic goods and services, it also includes deficiencies in other vital elements of human rights, such as rest and recreation and protection from violence and conflict that expand people‟s choices and enable them to fulfill their potential” (Gordon, 2003:27).
The notion of deprivation focuses attention on the circumstances that surround people, casting poverty as an attribute of the environment they live and grow in. People living in poverty do experience deprivation of the material, spiritual and emotional resources needed to survive, develop and thrive, leaving them unable to enjoy their rights, achieve their full potential or participate as full and equal members of society. In violating people‟s rights by denying them the essentials they need and deserve, we harm them and ourselves, permitting and encouraging the seeds of poverty, alienation and despair to take root.
Although, poverty is a global phenomenon threatening the survival of humanity, in Nigeria poverty has reached an alarming level and could be blamed on non-clear government social policies. The 2021 national statistics of poverty revealed that 70% of the population in Nigeria live below poverty line. This measure is based on Absolute, Relative, Dollar/day and Food poverty national average measurement (National Bureau of Statistics, 2021:23).
Across the world, government plays a key impact in poverty alleviation. Generally speaking, poverty refers to the condition that exists when people lack the means to satisfy their basic needs such as nutrition, housing, clothing and other essentials of life. The increasing and high level of poverty in developing countries has serious implication for the world economy. Authors are divided as to the meaning of poverty and those areas that should be classified as poverty stricken. This is because, those that are classified as being poor in one area or country may be equivalent with those classified as averagely better-off in another place. However, Poverty generally means a state of being poor; that is when necessary needs are not met (World Bank, 2001: 68).
The problem of defining poverty is largely a cultural problem in determining what is or what should count as inadequate social functioning that are important or considered to be so; are being gainfully employed, maintaining a household and engaged in satisfying personal and social relationship.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The study employs quantitative descriptive research design to examine the impact of poverty on insecurity among youths.
Research settings
This study was carried out in Akwa Ibom state, Akwa Ibom state is one of the states in Nigeria, located in the Southern region.
Types and Sources of Data
Primary and secondary data was used for this study. The primary data are those data which are collected afresh and for the first time, and thus happen to be original in character. It also refers to information collected or generated by the researcher for the purpose of the project immediately at hand.
On the other hand, secondary data refer to the information that has been collected by someone other than the researcher for purposes other than those involved in the research project at hand which are also relevant in the conduct of this study. These include official documents, diaries, ministerial reports, etc.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Socio economic assessment of respondents
Table 4.1 shows crime victims‟ socio-demographic characteristics. The data reveals that majority of the crime victims 19 (63.3%) are female, while 11 (36.7%) are male respondents. Also, 14 (46.7%) of the crime victims ranges between the ages of 15 – 19 years.
In addition, majority of the crime victims 14 (46.6%) are between 5 – 10 family members, while 8 (26.7%) are between 10 – 15 members. Similarly, in terms of the position of crime victims in their respective families; the table shows that 12 (40.0%) said they fall at position 5 (fifth position), while 7 (23.7%) fall at position 2 (second position).
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
The research examines the impact of poverty on insecurity in Akwa Ibom State. In an attempt to achieve this goal the research focused on the nature, causes and effects of insecurity, poverty and insecurity situation in Nigeria, factors contributing to poverty and insecurity in Akwa Ibom State and draws out possible ways of addressing poverty and by implication insecurity in Akwa Ibom State. Relevant literature were reviewed on the subject matter and Relative Deprivation theory was adopted to explain and ascertain the extent to which poverty plays a impact on insecurity in Akwa Ibom State. Towards this end, it was assumed that people venture into insecurity; a criminal business in response to their feelings of deprivations as reflected in their perceived existence of social inequality (gab) between their current socio-economic status and their prospects and what appear to be reasonable and legitimate expectations, in comparisons with what other persons in the society are believed to enjoy in terms of material, cultural and or political satisfaction. It is further discovered that factors contributing to poverty are responsible for the prevalence of insecurity in Akwa Ibom State. Similarly, corruption in governance aggravates the incidence of poverty in the society, where human and material resources are poorly harnessed, managed and distributed among the people. This in turns widens social inequality among the people. As a result of this, people venture into different criminal practices such as insecurity in order to up-grade their status and earn a better living condition that will guarantee their escape from poverty.
Conclusion
Insecurity has intensified in Nigeria, due to widespread poverty, economic desperation, greed and ignorance among people in Nigeria. Over the years Criminals have taken advantage of the underdevelopment of Nigeria
Insecurity is a major violation of human rights, as men, women and children are robbed for exploitative purposes such as sexual exploitation, begging, organ harvesting, under paid jobs through forced labour in the agricultural, manufacturing and construction industries, Clubs, recreational centres and other entertainment industries as well as domestic services. This had become a major source of concern to individual families and the society at large. Crime victims of insecurity suffered from psychological trauma, effects of stigmatization, low self esteem, diseases among others; where most crime victims find it difficult to be re-integrated into the society in order to pursuit educational opportunities, productive career and other legitimate forms of empowerment. The problem of insecurity has assumed wider dimensions, not only to the individual crime victims and families but also to the entire country and society at large.
In view of the above, Government and other relevant stakeholder should play a major impact in the eradication/alleviation of poverty through the creation of an enabling environment for employment, skills acquisition and other economic empowerment opportunities in order to reduce the level of social inequality as well as educate, engaged and prevent people from tendency of being lured into crime such as insecurity as a means of earning a living or wealth creation at all cost. Also, Government should strengthen the capacity of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to ensure the effective enforcement of existing laws, and punish offenders accordingly in order to serve as a deterrant to others. A dynamic and robust counter insecurity strategy that focuses on a synergy among various stakeholders targeted at alleviating poverty and eliminating social in-equality in the society, rehabilitation and reintegration of crime victims and prosecution of offenders will effectively curb the prevalence of insecurity in Akwa Ibom State.
Recommendations
Based on the research, the challenges and opportunities in this study, the following are recommended.
- The study recommends that government should embarked upon the implementation of various programmes aimed at tackling insecurity by reducing both the vulnerability of potential crime victims and the demand for exploitation in all its forms, ensuring adequate protection and support to those who fall crime victims of insecurity and supporting the efficient prosecution of the criminals involved as Criminals; to serve as a deterrent to others and discourage the practice of insecurity in
- It also recommends that Government should work towards establishing a comprehensive legislation on insecurity that will strengthen the enforcement of severe and capital punishment for offenders and enhance the capacity of NAPTIP, other relevant law enforcement agencies and the Judiciary to developappropriate expertise in tackling the menace of insecurity in Akwa Ibom State.
- The findings of the study recommends that media, non – governmental youths (NGO‟s) and other relevant stakeholders should sustain and increase the current public and media interest in insecurityin Nigeria through more public education and enlightenment campaigns based on research, conferences, workshop and other relevant intervention strategies that will sensitize people; mostly the youths against the negative effects of insecurity.
It also recommends that politicians, opinion leaders, religious institutions and other major stakeholders in the society, should play complementary impacts in supporting government efforts at alleviating poverty among the people. Efforts should be intensified towards investments in the critical sectors of Agriculture, Health, Education and infrastructure in order to assist government in its efforts at addressing factors contributing to poverty as a strategy to seliminate incentives that create favourable environment for theprevalence of insecurity in Akwa Ibom State.
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