Recent security situation in Nigeria is very alarming and it poses a great threat to the future of the nation. The current life expectancy at birth in Nigeria is 60.87 years (59 years for males and 63 years for females).
Though national security is the ability of any nation to protect its citizens against external and internal threats. However, the situation in Nigeria has continued to deteriorate (Its current inflation rate ticked down to 17.4% in July from June’s 17.8%)
Recently the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2021 ranked Nigeria at 146 among 163 globally according to the level of peacefulness.
Also, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) recently drew the attention of the government to challenges such as Kidnapping, insecurity, corruption etc as partly responsible for scaring away investors. It described the challenge as overwhelming and a risk to the growth of the economy.
In addition, the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics stated that in year 2020, 40% of the population or 83 million Nigerians lived in poverty (83 million Nigerians lived on less than the equivalent of $1.90 a day)
Read Also: ICC aggravating Nigeria’s security challenges- FG
The national poverty rate is also projected to jump from 40.1% in 2019 to 45.2% in 2022; the unemployment rate is also projected to rise to 32.5% with further increase in 2022.
This security challenge has inhibited the government’s ability to build infrastructure, provide the needed social services to the people, and attract investments that drive innovation, create industries, provide jobs, and create wealth. It has also culminated and increased activities of insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and urban crime of all sorts. Insecurity is the single most difficult challenge facing Nigeria today.
Reports say that Nigeria has witnessed a staggering 111 kidnapping incidents since the last eight months -January to mid-August 2021 (an estimated N11.415 billion is said to have been demanded as ransom for kidnapped victims)
This figure (111) represents confirmed cases by the police and eye- witnesses reported by the media (other unreported cases might have taken place).
The highest number of kidnap cases (27) was recorded in February with 605 victims and was closely followed by July (23) and January (21) with 327 and 284 victims respectively.
Reports have it that an average of 13 persons were abducted daily in the first half of 2021 in Nigeria. This confirms the level of decline of security and how daring the criminals have become.
This pattern of abduction is the same across the nation but in the Northern part, victims are often kidnapped in large numbers mostly in schools as well as mass abduction of travelers on highways.
Abductions have now become more prevalent as kidnappers now detain victims, if possible, for ransom payment more than for other personal or political reasons. They (kidnappers) sometimes kill victims to pass strong messages to relatives and government officials.
The highways in the South-West and South-South are also hot spots for them. In the South-Western parts of Nigeria herdsmen are accused as responsible for incidents where victims are abducted from their farms and highways, yet none have been brought to book or tried in any court of law.
Some examples of dangerous roads identified in Nigerian roads are Benin-Ore highway, Benin-Auchi-Okene highway, Keffi-Akwanga highway, Akure-Owo expressway, Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja road, Zaria-Sokoto-Gusau, Bauchi-Tafawa-Balewa highway, Wukari-Takum road and Minna -Kotongora road.
Reasons for some of the anomalies are foundational spanning through the very fabric holding the nation together. This is also caused by political issues (ethnicity and religion) and things as small as differences in norms and customs. This is also responsible for the high rate of corruption and inequality among citizens.
Other major challenges affecting national unity, peace and security are the increase of secessionist groups, lack of freedom of expression, high level of insecurity, high unemployment rate, electoral fraud, terrorist attacks, unemployment, poverty etc. In addition are herder-farmer conflict, armed banditry, police brutality, nepotism, lack of patriotism, lack of freedom of expression.
Also, the government needs to double efforts at achieving more sustainable, safer, and secured maritime space to complement its efforts of building a stronger economy that will address the current security challenge affecting the nation.
Security challenges affecting Nigeria’s territorial waters include illegal unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF), sea robbery, illicit trafficking, narcotics, arms smuggling, and pollution. 73% of kidnappings at sea and 92% of global hostages take place around the Gulf of Guinea.
This has been responsible for economic leakages of over US$2.74 billion in the past four years because of insurance surcharges applied on Nigerian shipments.
Nigerians have not experienced insecurity at this level in its history, it is therefore important to restructure the 1999 constitution to reflect equity, justice, true federalism, promote diversity and inclusion etc. With more cooperation, commitment, transparency and trust among the government, its agencies and local communities; exchange of information will be easier and faster. This will help close security gaps and create a more peaceful, secure and business friendly environment.
Based on the above, the government needs to channel more resources and focus on better strategies of creating more job opportunities for Nigerians as well as improve living conditions of Nigerians.
It should also provide basic amenities for its citizens instead of embarking on amnesty for Boko haram members and re-integrate them into the society.
With the above, it is very important that security agencies, government at all levels and community leaders work closely together to improve the situation before it deteriorates further; just like the recent situation in Afghanistan, where the government fell to the Taliban.
While poor leadership and lack of political will among leaders are also responsible for insecurity, the way out is for the government to take full responsibility for all vulnerable and unemployed Nigerians as obtained in developed nations. It also needs to develop flexible policies that can be tailored in addressing current challenges.
The Federal, state, and local governments also need to involve young people especially the youths in governance and ensure a more business friendly environment. Also, provision of compulsory basic education targeted at marginalized and poor Nigerians should be adopted. This will help renew the mindset of Nigerians and bring positive change to the nation, as illiteracy is partly responsible for the high level of insecurity in the country.
Lastly, measures such as introduction of state police, creation of more job opportunities, upgrading electoral laws, and decentralisation of the present system of government to help improve service delivery particularly at the grassroots. This will help meliorate security, reduce poverty, and add more value to the lives of Nigerian
Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date
Open In Whatsapp
