In 2019, close to 750 million people or nearly one in ten people in the world were exposed to severe levels of food insecurity. Insecurity generally involves a breach of peace and security; whether historical, religious, ethnic, regional, civil, social, economic, and political that contributes to recurring conflicts, and leads to wanton destruction of lives and property. Statistically, insecurity in Nigeria has reached an alarming rate showing its ugly head in various facets of our lives.
The menace remains a threat to governance & economy growth in Nigeria and we have seen several instances of how insecurity exists in almost all parts of the country. Examples of such alarming insecurities span from the terrorism and religious extremism by Boko Haram in North East to militancy and pipeline vandalization activities in the Niger delta as well as kidnappings and herdsmen disturbances in the North.
What are the Causes?
Unemployment and Poverty
It is a fact that unemployment causes poverty and extreme poverty leads to crimes that gives rise to insecurity. Several reports have graduates from universities engaging in criminal acts resulting from unemployment. The National Bureau of Statistics has said that 112.519 million Nigerians live in relative poverty.
Corruption
Corruption has been largely responsible for Nigeria’s massive unemployment rate and has equally contributed to poverty and the staggering failure of several businesses in Nigeria.
Fragile security apparatus
Nigeria’s security system is seen as very poor in terms of personnel and equipment. Security officers are poorly trained and remunerated. As a result, the requisite expertise is not available to meet modern security challenges.
Bad governance and poor leadership
Insecurity has become a major issue for the Nigerian government and this fact remains Nigeria’s fundamental cause of insecurity from the past till now. Bad governance in Nigeria has manifested in the government’s inability to deliver public services and to provide basic amenities for the masses. This menace has brought a massive inequality among citizens, and this is a main trigger of insecurity in Nigeria.
Peace and Progress for Nigeria intervention for Nigeria
Good governance is all about effective and transparent leadership that produces results which together transform the socio-economic conditions of nation. While this remains a viable solution to the challenge of insecurity in Nigeria, there should be a consistent sensitization on the importance of good governance right from the grassroot level up to the federal parastatals.
Talent empowerment – Strategic and well-coordinated empowerment can help to create opportunities and lift the less privileged with abundant skills out of abject poverty. Also, there should be a creation of empowerment schemes and trainings to upskill and educate the youths.
We demand that the Federal government of Nigeria should provide adequate Funds to security agencies and equip them with modern-day combat machinery, skill, and training.
text: Ayomide Ayileka
