Insecurity in Nigeria is a complex issue that affects the country on multiple levels. It encompasses a wide range of problems, including ethnic and religious conflict, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of violent crime.
Nigeria’s level of insecurity is rising dramatically every day. The Nigerian government has recently faced significant difficulties due to insecurity and terrorism.
The safety of people and their possessions is still crucial for the socioeconomic growth of any given community. To do this, the government must appropriately ensure security in the society.
It is disturbing to see how quickly innocent lives are being wasted. In addition, residents suffer from emotional and psychological stress daily due to the loss of loved ones due to insecurity.
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This article will go through 10 solutions to insecurity in Nigeria.
Causes Of Insecurity In Nigeria
Nigeria continues to be a developing country trying to find its feet amongst its problems. However, it is due to the persistent insurgency and insecurity that serves as a block to its development. Below are some of the causes of insecurity in Nigeria:
1. Poverty and Unemployment
It is known that unemployment contributes to poverty, and extreme poverty breeds crime, which breeds instability.
The official unemployment rate for young people in the nation is 10 percent. The high unemployment rate in Nigeria is overwhelming for young people.
Every year, universities produce many graduates who regrettably are dumped onto the job market with no hope of employment. And many have committed crimes as a result of this.
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Due to the high unemployment rate in Nigeria, young people are now drawn to violent crime.
Others have fallen victim to terrorists and have quickly become radicalized. Previous governments have not taken steps to lower unemployment and poverty rates, contributing to Nigeria’s insecurity.
2. Bad Governance
Unfortunately, corruption at the top levels of the leadership structure rather than a lack of funding is to blame for Nigeria’s lack of fundamental amenities.
In addition, the increasing insecurity rate shows Nigeria’s weak and ineffective government systems.
Also, this is due to the government’s inability to deliver public services. Also, the government’s inability to satisfy the majority’s basic requirements has frustrated many people.
To this end, poor leadership has been associated with Nigeria’s root causes of insecurity.
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3. Poor Security System
Inadequate government security infrastructure is to blame for the weak security system. As a result, the experience and tools necessary to handle problems are unavailable to security officers.
In addition, security officers have insufficient pay, inadequate training, and bad working conditions.
The necessary competence is therefore lacking to address current security concerns. Nigeria is severely under-policed. It is why the police cannot address security and criminal issues efficiently.
4. Poor judicial system
One of the factors contributing to Nigeria’s insecurity is the weak judicial system. In Nigeria, many criminals have bribed judicial officers to purchase their freedom. As a result, the legal system has abandoned its citizens and allowed all horrors to occur.
5. Corruption
Undoubtedly, Nigeria’s current condition of insecurity is due to government failure, which can be linked to pervasive corruption. All levels of public office are corrupt, which has led to significant instability in our nation.
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Corruption prevents the nation from offering its citizens high-quality services and job opportunities. Young people have difficulty finding jobs due to a lack of job opportunities.
6. Weak border management
The level of insecurity in Nigeria can be attributed to the nation’s shaky borders. The poor border management has allowed people to move about unrecorded. In addition, there is an uncontrolled entry of small arms and light weapons into the nation.
The entry of these weapons has encouraged insurgency and criminality there. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger all share a border with Nigeria. The immigration and customs authorities in Nigeria do a lousy job of protecting these boundaries.
These borders’ vulnerability has made it more likely that terrorist activity would spread throughout Nigeria.
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7. Ethnic Groups and Religious Disparities
Political and religious leaders throughout the nation occasionally exploit ethnic feelings for their ends. Thus, this results in sowing discord and hatred amongst various ethnic groups and religions.
In addition, the supply of basic infrastructure and ethnic disparity have been major security concerns for Nigeria. These issues have also marginalized some regions of the country.
Solutions To Insecurity In Nigeria
The prospect of insecurity in Nigeria puts people’s lives and property at risk and hinders business operations. It also deters domestic and foreign investors, which stunts a nation’s social and economic development.
So let’s go through some viable solutions to curb the alarming rate of insecurity. They are:
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1. Strengthened border protection
The Federal Government must address the immediate problem of border porosity. The government should hire, train, and send efficient customs and immigration employees. The government must purchase more effective security technologies to improve border security.
The Federal Government should also increase the number of soldiers on the border patrol. Border guards who secure the border must have adequate access to the resources provided.
2. Enhancing the status of police and security forces
Strengthening the involvement of the police and security forces is another way to combat insecurity in Nigeria. Therefore, it is critical to fund police officer training and equip them with the necessary tools to perform their jobs well.
They should be properly paid for and have access to quality weapons. Additionally, there is a need to modernize security organizations. The government can do this through sufficient training, and a shift in focus.
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3. Good Governance
A good administration can solve Nigeria’s insecurity problem. It is essential to have an accountable government that answers the people. Any corrupt person must be punished accordingly.
With this, everyone will have equal rights, and there will be more honesty and transparency.
There is a need to implement economic policies and human development programs. Such would serve as the driving force behind good governance.
Thus, effectiveness, foresight, transparency, reliability, and credible political leadership would be a function of effectiveness, foresight, and reliability.
4. Establishing a diligent law enforcement team
Law enforcement officials should be proactive and foresee prospective crimes with almost perfect accuracy. They should not always react but gather and monitor information.
The government should not be able to compromise law enforcement agencies at any level.
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5. Improving intelligence services
Strengthening intelligence services is another way to combat security issues in Nigeria. It can be accomplished by funding law enforcement personnel’s education and supplies.
It should include those working for the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
A centralized intelligence organization that can gather and examine data must be established. The government should also establish a standardized data-gathering system.
Intelligent services can accomplish this by creating a central database. Also, it can be created by building a computer system that can store data from several agencies.
6. Enhancing the criminal justice system
The government must ensure that proceedings are completed early by working within a time frame. A tough, fair, and just judicial system is crucial. No criminal should not be spared punishment.
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7. Providing easy access to education and job opportunities
Any developing country requires education to advance the country further. The curriculum at every educational level needs to be changed. Also, our educational institutions need to be reorganized.
The government must prioritize skill development as an integral component of the academic curriculum. Increasing possibilities for youth to receive an education and find work is important.
Therefore, investments in youth programs and providing access to high-quality education and employment opportunities are pertinent. Moreover, it would enable youths to make valuable contributions to society.
8. Economic advancement
There is room for improvement in the nation’s economic output. The government can achieve this by building an economy relevant to society.
Also, creating an economic structure for business activity and industrial growth would help produce gainful employment.
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In addition, top-notch educational institutions and access to high-quality healthcare for the populace would be available.
9. There should be public awareness of effective security measures.
It is important to increase public knowledge of security measures and educate people on protecting themselves.
State officials should put more effort into developing public awareness campaigns to educate people about the crime rate.
Also, security agents should inform about what they can do to protect themselves in times of danger. Giving people information about how to report dangerous activities is also advised.
10. Development of citizens and infrastructure
The state government must take advantage of the funds given to them by the Federal Government. They can do this by funding health, education, and employment opportunities, particularly for our young people.
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A national development plan must be created immediately involving all government tiers.
Conclusion
The issue of insecurity cannot be done away with in one day. The government and all other security agencies must make conscious and effective efforts to reduce the country’s insecurity rate.
Another way to eradicate insecurity is by upholding and enforcing the law. Everyone should be conscious of the importance of promoting peace and following the law in society.