National Security and Economic Development in Nigeria 2015 – 2020
Chapter One
Objective of the study
The objectives of the study are;
- To establish the causes of insecurity in Nigeria
- To find out the effect of insecurity on economic development in Nigeria
- To recommend measures out of the doldrums.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
National Security
In the past, national security was perceived traditionally as building up defence and security manpower, and amassing or collecting weapon systems so that in the event of a threat situation, the state could meet the challenge. In other words, the state channeled all her energy and resources to military manpower and armaments. Thus, this idea of national security was perceived from a wrong direction. For instance, Mroz (1991), conceived national security as “the relative freedom from harmful threats”. The antithesis of security is insecurity, which can be seen as the absence of security as discussed above. The common description of insecurity is uncertainty, hazard, danger, want of safety, want of confidence, state of doubt, inadequately guarded and protected, lack of protection and being unsafe, instability and others. In the words of Achumba et al, (2013), the common descriptors outlined above point to a condition where there exists a vulnerability to harm, loss of life, property or livelihood. To them insecurity is state of not knowing, a lack of control, and the inability to take defensive actions against forces that portend danger or harm to an individual or group, or that make them vulnerable. While recognizing the need for nations to have military forces McNamara (1968) insisted that development is essential for security. However, he regrets that ignorance on the part of leaders makes this fact problematic. In his words; The rub is that we do not always grasp the meaning of security in this context. In a modernizing society, security means development, security is not military hard ware, though it may involve it; security is not traditional military activity though it may encompass it. Security is development, and without development there can be no security. A developing nation that does not infact develop, simply cannot remain secure for the intractable reason that its own citizenry cannot shed its human nature. This is what we do not always understand, and what governments of modernizing nations do not always understand. The devastating effects of insecurity on economic growth were recognized early enough in the literature: UNDP (1994), Beland (2005); Collier Paul (2006); Achumba and Ighomereho (2013); Omoyibo and Akpomera (2013); Stewart (2004); Aderoju (2007) amongst others. Most of these studies however examined the subject from a political-socio economic perspective, only a few purely economic study of the subject exist in the literature. UNDP (1994) defined human security with a view to understanding what insecurity entails. According to it, human security means, first, safety from such chronic threats as hunger, disease and repression. And second, it means protection from sudden and hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life – whether in homes, in jobs or in communities. The report identified seven elements that make up human security: (i) Economic security; (ii) Food security; (iii) Health security; (iv) Environmental security; (v) Personal security; (vi) Community security; and (vii) Political security. Anything short of this definition and elements, amounts to insecurity.
Patterns and Dimensions of Insecurity
Nigeria is currently bedeviled by a plethora of civil unrests and insecurities including but not limited to the following;
- Armed robbery
- Kidnapping and Ritual killings
- High profile murder and political assassinations
- Herdsmen disturbances and clashes with farmers
- Violent agitations for resource control especially in Niger Delta of Nigeria
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine national security and economic development in Nigeria 2015-2020. Residents in Kaduna South forms the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain national security and economic development in Nigeria 205-2020. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of national security and economic development in Nigeria 205-2020
Summary
This study was on national security and economic development in Nigeria 205-2020. Three objectives were raised which included; To establish the causes of insecurity in Nigeria, to find out the effect of insecurity on economic development in Nigeria and to recommend measures out of the doldrums. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from residents from Kaduna South. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Insecurity occasioned by the activities of militants, kidnappers, violent armed robbers and more especially Boko Haram in the country can truncate our dream of achieving Economic development, if not tackled or checked by the government. This can be done by government proving effective leadership and good governance, ensuring well equipped and coordinated security and enhancing intelligence gathering mechanism through synergy between Nigeria and the international community. Besides, equitable distribution of national resources and egalitarian society are essential or germane to achieving our vision. On the whole, a Nation replete with insecurity can never attract investments nor grow its economy. This study examined the effect of insecurity on economic growth and considered the likely effect of such insecurity on economic variables such as investment, employment, exports, government revenue and the informal sector.
Recommendation
The federal government in collaboration with other sub-national governments should work assiduously to provide direct and indirect employment opportunities for the army of unemployed, disillusioned and restive youth in the country who are readily available for recruitment as militants, armed robbers, kidnappers, abductors and terrorists. The federal government should therefore formulate and effectively implement policies and programmes capable of addressing the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria such as poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, dearth of infrastructural facilities, uneven development, among others.
The federal government should phase out the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) and establish a more viable and result-oriented agency capable of addressing the problem of abject poverty among large population of Nigerians, particularly those residing in the rural areas.
The government should resuscitate the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and reposition agricultural sector so as to play active role in job creation for Nigerian youths.
As a corollary, the federal government should re-organize the country’s intelligence system and build a capable and more proactive security apparatus in Nigeria. This will add more values in checking incessant bombings, robbery, kidnapping and violent crimes by hoodlums all over Nigeria and correspondingly attract more investors.
References
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- Agara Tunde & Ezeajughu Mary (2021), “Global Terrorism and Organized Crime: CONVERGENCE AND GENERAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS, EJSS2020R33, Vol 1.
- BBC African News (2010), Ongoing Concern: Boko Haram and Nigeria’s War On Terrorism, June 17.
- Clinton, B. (2012), “Poverty, corruption, Inequality helping fuel Boko Haram”, This Day Newspaper, Sunday, February 26, 2012.p.15
- Ewetan, Olabanji and Urhie, Ese (2014). ‘Insecurity and SocioEconomic Development in Nigeria’. Journal of Sustainable Development Studies ISSN 2201-4268 Volume 5, Number 1.
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