Insecurity Situation in Nigeria: Implications for National Security and Development

Abstract

Insecurity is one of the most glaring and much talked about issue in Nigeria today. Acts of insecurity occur on a daily basis throughout the country. This has propelled some rightthinking Nigerians to be concerned about this ugly trend. Similarly, Security remains the bedrock for social, cultural, political and economic development of any nation. Again, lack of security engenders national development in all spheres of a nation’s life. Over the years Nigeria has relatively enjoyed peaceful atmosphere until recently, the coming of terrorism and insurgency in the North, kidnapping, armed robbery and other forms of insecurity ravaging the entire length and breadth of country, to the extent that each day that passes bye, without having cases and reports of killings, wanton destruction of lives and properties. To further buttress this assertion, the paper examined insecurity situation in Nigeria and its implications
for National Security and Development. Methodologically, the study made use of secondary source of data collection such as textbooks, journals and other relevant documents. The armedrobbery and wobble economy theories were jointly adopted as the theoretical frame work of analysis. Research findings revealed that insecurity has increased the level of poverty, hunger, disease, corruption, illiteracy and violence in Nigeria. At the end, the study recommended that more efforts should be deploy by government towards addressing and arresting the ugly trend. Secondly, there should be a deliberate effort by all stakeholders to equip the intelligent units and the populace on the need to be more tactical in her approach. Lastly, there should be awareness campaign programmes to educate the populace on the need to be more vigilante and conscious of the happenings around them.