


































AQUINO VOLUME3 ISSUE 3 JUNE 2023


Abstract 

This inquiry interrogates the phenomenon of insecurity in Nigeria. The study admits that 
for decades, insecurity not only abounds in Nigeria but hampers legitimate ventures and 
meaningful business activities. The paper avows that this ugly phenomenon has 
tremendous and dire effects on national development. Since insecurity is an ill-wind that 
blows in no good, this inquiry investigates insecurity in Nigeria to ascertain its causes, 
nature and consequences on national development. The study analytically finds that 
insecurity is one of the most outstanding challenges plaguing Nigerian State and its 
sustainable development. This is as it scares foreign and local investors, hinders business 
and developmental strides, and impacts negatively on human living condition. The study 
notes that the spate of insecurity in Nigeria will persist because of its unaddressed 
propelling factors, Governments' poor approach and unwillingness to curb insecurity, 
and the unmotivated law enforcement agencies within the country. 

Key Words: Analysis, Development, Insecurity, Nigeria, Philosophical 

Introduction 
In her pristine period, Nigeria was among Africa's fast developing countries. Recently, 
Nigeria is on her downward un-developing plunge due to the increasing insecurity in the 
country. Based on her spate of insecurity, some societal institutions and infrastructures 
have become archaic or moribund, while others have remained weak and insufficient 
signs of national development. (Aluta, 2021). Worst still, the momentum of insecurity is 
far from abetting. Yet, successive Nigerian leadership is not harnessing the latest 
technologies for efficient security of the country. This is despite the designation of 
national insecurity as a major issue in Government and allocation of huge amount to it 
(Aluta, 2021). This neglect is in fact demonstrated by Governments' low rates of ICT 
penetration in the curbing of insecurity in the country (Aluta, 2021). This is too 
demonstrated in Government's “wanting, selective, disequilibrium, reactive rather than 
proactive” measures against insecurity in the country (Chinweuba & Nwobodo, 2022, 
p.34). The implication is that Nigerian State has not confronted frontally and decisively 
the pandemic insecurity in the country. As such, Nigerian society is now fraught with 
unprecedented kinds of insecurity such as conflicts, terrorism, cultism, violence, robbery, 

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A PHILOSOPHICAL ANALYSIS OF INSECURITY IN NIGERIA AND ITS 
EFFECTS ON NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CHARLES NWEKE, PH.D.
DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA
AND

FRANCIS MICHAEL OKECHUKWU ENYOSIOBI
DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA



kidnapping, banditry, militancy, swindling, to mention but a few. 

The national concern over insecurity predicates on the fact that security is the fulcrum of 
business activities and economic growth (Omode & Omode, 2015). Thus, an insecure 
society like Nigeria repels foreign and domestic investments, and turns existing 
economic activities to its low level. With this situation, national income remains at the 
low level, and national development which depends on this income remains a mirage. In 
congruence with this reality, Nwanegbo and Odigbo (2013) aver that insecurity is the 
pillar upon which every meaningful development would not be achieved or sustained in 
human society.  Aside the unprecedented series of agitations visible in kidnapping and 
abduction, armed robberies, bombing, and carnages in the past decades, Nigerian State is 
now faced with terrorism which is the most dastard of all insecurities. This has spread 
even in the hinterlands with unimaginable frequency and intensity. As such, human lives 
and properties are wasted on daily basis; a gory sight that envelope the citizenry with 
apprehension and uncertainty.

In all these, national development has remained a mere dream; fading away at the dawn of 
each insecure day. The situation is today worse as human safety and protection of 
properties are now not guaranteed. Yet, the poor governance, corruption and 
unemployment in the country exacerbate the fragile situation making the country a lasting 
theatre of insecurity. What then are the dire consequences of persistent insecurity on 
Nigerian national development? What are the causes and nature of insecurity in Nigeria? 
These worries from time-to-time form subjects of national discourse; hence this study 
approaches them from philosophical perspective.                

Understanding the concepts of Insecurity and Development

Insecurity is a social disorder; a symptom of some anti-social and criminal activities. 
Insecurity is the antithesis of security. It is the condition of being susceptible to danger, 
loss, harm, injury or pain. It is the state of vulnerability to harm and loss of life, property or 
livelihood. Insecurity is the anxiety one experiences when one feels unsafe, vulnerable or 
prone to danger, loss, harm, injury or pain. It is a societal condition replete with tensions, 
perplexity and apprehensions. As such, Beland (2005) defines insecurity as the state of 
fear or anxiety stemming from a concrete or alleged lack of protection. Aluta (2021) 
alludes to this idea, opining that insecurity is “the state of fear or anxiety, stemming from a 
concrete or alleged lack of protection, a lack of or inadequate freedom from danger” (p. 
1). Insecurity thus refers to “lack or inadequate freedom from danger; a state of being 
open or subject to danger or threat of danger, where danger is the condition of being 
susceptible to harm or injury, state of being exposed to risk or anxiety, where anxiety is a 
vague unpleasant emotion that is experienced in anticipation of some misfortune” 
(Achumba, Ighomereho, & Akpor-Robaro, 2013, p.80).

Moreover, Akin (2008) insinuates that insecurity encapsulates the situation that exists as a 
result of absence of measures for the protection of persons, information and property 
against hostile forces; persons, influences and actions. Thus, insecurity is the existence of 
harmful conditions within which people cannot go about their normal daily activities 
without threats to their lives or properties. It embraces situations of poor or no protection 

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and safety of the citizenry, resources, businesses and the nation at large against sabotage 
or violent occurrences. It is too a situation of instability, non predictability of daily life, 
protection from crime, and freedom from psychological harm. Insecurity is thus the 
presence of threats as well as the inability of State actors to rise to the challenges posed by 
those threats with expediency and expertise.

From the above discourses, it stands that the word “insecurity” is a condition created by 
criminal activities and the threats resulting from them. Insecurity is thus not actually the 
criminal activities, but the general understanding of the atmosphere created by the 
criminal activities; an atmosphere that portends threat, danger and harm. This means that 
insecurity is propelled by crimes. Hence, insecurity is the implication of criminal 
activities; a state of uncertainty and fear regarding the safety of people in the society; their 
properties and ventures. This state of uncertainty is inculcated by persistent criminal 
activities within a society. Based on this meaning, Omede and Omede (2015) view 
insecurity as the tension resulting from the criminal activities of Boko Haram, militants, 
ethnic militias, kidnappers, armed robbers, and others.   

At the heart of civil society however is national development. This is a situation where 
societal infrastructures and amenities are consistently in place and functional. These 
infrastructures include good roads, schools, healthcare system and public services. 
Development also points to adequate “provision of human basic needs of health care, 
clean water, shelter, food, economic opportunities, welfare packages, better living 
conditions and equal economic opportunities among the people” (Chinweuba, 2019, 
p.249). Development as well involves the “stable and tremendous growth of Gross 
National Product (GNP) and Gross National Income (GNI) which constitute the revenue 
and wealth of a country” (Chinweuba, 2019, p.248). This means that a society starts under 
developing once it cannot sustain its income and provide sufficient basic amenities, 
economic opportunities and freedom for the greater number of its population. 

Insecurity in Nigerian Society
Insecurity in Nigerian society is visible in the poor protection of the country from crime 
and the prevalent human vulnerability to psychological and physical harm. This is why 
Aluta (2021) argues that insecurity is not only the prevalence of threats, but the inability 
of Nigerian State actors to rise to the challenges posed by these threats with expediency 
and expertise.  Omode and Omode (2015) allude to this meaning maintaining that:

the speed with which evil is growing in Nigeria and the 
merciless ways that lives of innocent ones are being 
wasted are worrisome. People are burdened on a daily                           
basis with psychological and emotional trauma 
resulting from gory sights of lifeless and mutilated 
bodies of loved family members, close associates and 
colleagues littered  on the streets (p.120).

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The condition of insecurity has been in Nigeria from its pristine time, yet it has in recent 
time taken a new turn. Thus, every year records an unprecedented case of the spate of 
insecurity in the country; a record characterized by geometric progression. Insecurity in 
Nigeria has however become visible in the existence of the activities of anti-social and 
criminal groups like; Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) 
terrorism, Fulani herdsmen menace, Unknown Gun Men (UGM) activities, incessant 
human kidnappings, security forces' extra judicial arrests/killings, banditry, fraudulent 
actions and armed robbery alongside the law-abiding citizens and their legitimate 
activities. 

From East to West and North to South therefore, evidence of insecurity in Nigeria is seen 
in the killing and maiming of innocent people, kidnapping, banditry, swindling, robbery, 
etc., that abound in various nooks and crannies of the society.  This is such that since 
Nigerian return to democratic rule, many lives and properties have been lost to activities 
culminating in insecurity. The Vanguard newspaper of May 18, 2014 put the death toll at 
more than 12,000 with more than 8000 injured or maimed while thousands of other 
innocent Nigerians displaced. According to Okpaga (2012) however, between July 27, 
2009 and February 17, 2012, Boko Haram carried out not less than 53 deadly attacks. 
These are heightened by the violent ethnic, tribal, political and religious violent 
situations. These are now exacerbated by the criminal activities of Unknown Gun Men 
(UGM), Niger Delta militants, kidnappers, pipeline vandals, armed robbers, drug 
traffickers, cultists, yahoo-yahoo syndicates, Fulani herdsmen and arsonists. This 
condition has unabatedly continued even in recent time where these attacks and similar 
ones are creating widespread insecurity among the citizenry and hampering development 
activities. Accenting to the reality of these insecurity situations, Olumuyiwa, Adeoye and 
Sultan (2019) observe that; 

Within the last decades, Nigeria has been engulfed in 
different ethno-religious and political violence 
resulting in ample human casualties and material 
losses. The country has witnessed other forms of 
violent confrontations; the most heinous has been 
terrorism, unleashed by the Islamic group called Boko 
Haram. The sect has taken North-East Nigeria under 
siege and continues to undermine Nigerian   
statehood   as   well as its authoritative use of 
instrument of coercion (p. 29).

These activities indeed resonate Thomas Hobbes' famous dictum: “man for man is 
basically selfish and is moved to action not by his intellect but by his appetites, desires and 
passions”.

Causes of Insecurity in Nigeria
Insecurity is a symptom of anti-social or criminal activities. As such, the causes of 
insecurity are the crimes that give rise to it. Sources of these crimes in Nigeria are 
however traceable to a number of factors. Among these factors is the failure of successive 
Nigerian Governments to provide good governance (Igbuzor, 2011). This has resulted to 

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institutional failure or what Fukuyama (2004) calls breakdown of institutional 
infrastructures. As such, societal institutions in Nigeria has now become shaky, and the 
result is the paralysis of the existing set of social constraints; the societal rules and code of 
conduct that once held social order.  Governments' failure manifesting in the poor 
delivery of public goods, services and basic needs also create a hunger situation that make 
people easily recruited for nefarious activities that lead to insecurity. The poor human 
condition resulting from Governments' failure also creates a pool of frustrated people that 
are akin to violence at a slight provocation. 

Another cause of insecurity in Nigeria is the pervasive social unfairness, material 
inequalities and disparities in life opportunities. These are giving rise to grievances, 
disaffection and resentment in a large number of people. This is more so as it is perceived 
to be stemming from obvious marginalization perpetuated by those in government. In 
reference to this reality, Onuoha (2011) reveals that a large number of Nigerians 
especially the youths are frustrated, and have lost hope in Nigerian State. This 
disillusionment is now being expressed in anti-social activities that culminate in 
insecurity.

Insecurity is also brought by ethno-religious conflicts that constantly rises from distrust, 
struggle for hegemony and dominance among various ethnic and religious groups in the 
country.  Thus, the various ethnic and religious groups in Nigeria lack cordiality and are 
laden with mutual suspicion and apprehension that frequently manifest in violent 
confrontation and insecurity (Achumba, et al., 2013). Similar crises that result to 
insecurity also arise from diverse Nigerians' political consciousness and identity, quest to 
acquire political power and exercise control over national resources and the nation at 
large.  

Since independence, there has been little rapport between the Nigerian public and 
successive Governments. This is visible in the masses not being carried along or allowed 
to participate fully in governance. Moreover, draconian policies and austerity measures 
are brought to bear on the public without public opinion or consent. Along with these are 
Governments' neglect of the increasing poverty; unemployment, environmental 
degradation, injustice, corruption and small arms proliferation in the country. These are 
coupled by despotism which regularly rears its ugly head in Nigerian so-called 
democracy. These situations have provoked violent reactions from the public which 
develops into full blown insecurity. A typical instance of such violent reactions was the 
“END SARS” violent movement that swept away security formations in Nigerian society 
in 2020. 

Apart from these, insecurity in Nigeria is exacerbated by general loss of cultural and 
communal values. The traditional values in many Nigerian cultures were replete with 
endearing features of collectivism, loyalty to authority and community, truthfulness, 
honesty, hard work, mutual harmony, abhorrence of theft, high value for life, tolerance 
and love for one another.  Chinweuba (2019) reveals that these values made Nigerian 
society safe and secure but  

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the dilapidating nature of these systems have also 
broken the age long moral resolve of various people 
thereby propelling people to detach from culturally               
appreciated values and traditions. With this 
development, the internal equilibrium of personhood 
and the interiority of the being of the individual in 
Nigerian communities which derives from the 
culturally appreciated values and traditions that play 
crucial role of national integration, social control and 
bond between the individual and other members of the 
community is broken. The result of  these is  intrinsic  
crisis on the part of the individual which  eventually  
develops  to groups and communal conflicts (p. 63). 

Enhancing the spate of insecurity in Nigeria is also the porous borders through which 
migrants' movements are inadequately unchecked. With this, there is unchecked influx of 
weapons and criminal elements from neighbouring countries into Nigeria. This weapon 
proliferation enables criminal groups to have easy access to arms with which they foster 
insecurity (Hazen and Horner, 2007). Thus, Nigeria is estimated to be housing over 
seventy percent of illegal weapons in West Africa (Edeko, 2011). Coupled with this is the 
prevailing internal rural/urban drift which sees jobless and unskilled youths migrating to 
the urban centres from the hinterlands. The frustration of these youths stemming from 
their inability to get well paid jobs or gainful employment often endears them to crimes 
which cause insecurity. In congruence with this, Nwagboso (2012) maintains that the 
failure of successive Nigerian Governments to address the challenges of poverty and 
unemployment is one of the major causes of insecurity in the country.
            In some parts of Nigeria like the Niger Delta, the neglect of social responsibilities 
by multinational companies and successive Nigerian government also leads to youth 
restiveness and criminal activities that stoke insecurity. Nweke (2013) refers to this Niger 
Delta question as “the paradoxical condition of the Niger Delta”, positing that the oil in 
Niger Delta accounts for over ninety percent of Nigerian revenue. Yet, the indigenes are 
unemployed, impoverished, isolated and marginalized to a level below the World Bank's 
benchmark. As such, seventy two percent of families in the Niger Delta area are within 

 
the poverty brackets. Hazen and Horner (2007) therefore describe this situation as 
'Paradox of Plenty'. This is a situation where the country earns a great deal of revenue 
through oil sales, but fails to use these earnings to meet the needs of its people and to 
develop infrastructure as well as the economy. This is coupled by decades of poor 
governance that creates poor human conditions and makes people vulnerable to actions 
that constitute insecurity. 

Coupled with the aforementioned factors, insecurity in Nigeria is exacerbated by the 
weak security system in the country. This results from inadequate equipment of the 
security agencies seen in the poor provision of weaponry, manpower and training. This 
has consistently led to the poor attitudinal and behavioural disposition and nonchalance 
of security personnel towards insecurity in the country. It has also resulted to security 

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personnel assigned to deal with given security situations not having the expertise, 
professionalism and equipment necessary to effectively handle the situations. Due to 
poor training, many security personnel are even swallowed by ethnic, religious, 
communal or personal sentiments and interests rather than service to the nation. Thus, 

instead of being national watch dogs and defending 
national interest and values, and protecting people 
from harm by criminals, they soon become saboteurs 
of government effort, by supporting and fuelling 
insecurity through either leaking vital security 
information or aiding and abetting criminals to acquire 
weapons or to escape the   long arm of the law” 
(Achumba, et al., 2013, p. 82). 

From the discourses above, it stands that what causes insecurity in Nigeria are criminal 
activities and crimes. The experience and knowledge of these crimes coupled with the 
irresponsiveness of law enforcement agencies inculcates the sense of insecurity on the 
members of the society. Despite these, insecurity is as well caused by poor Government 
policies and approaches to national issues that affect the public. This is coupled by 
Nigerian modernization process that truncates peoples' normal way of life because it is 
complex, disordered and crises-laden. Yet, Nigerian State “lacks functional, effective and 
necessary institutions or palliatives required in cushioning and managing the stress, 
crises, suffering and other effects of societal modernization” (Chinweuba, 2021, p. 28). In 
these situations, people are faced with insecurity stemming from their fear of losing their 
possessions. Insecurity is however exacerbated by poor education, poor infrastructure, 
inadequate basic amenities, increasing unemployment, inflation, poverty, materialism, 
corrupt practices, youth restiveness victimization, marginalization, domination, 
exploitation and display of impunity replete in Nigerian society. 

Nature of Insecurity in Nigerian Society
Insecurity in Nigeria happens is physical and psychological ways. Crimes reflect the 
physical insecurity which is the most visible form of insecurity. Yet, physical insecurity 
feeds the psychological dimension of insecurity that lingers in peoples' minds. The speed 
with which insecurity is growing in Nigeria and the merciless ways innocent lives are 
being wasted however makes insecurity in Nigeria quite peculiar. Thus, people are 
burdened on daily basis with psychological and emotional trauma resulting from gory 
sights of lifeless and mutilated bodies of loved family members, close associates and 
colleagues littered on the streets. Insecurity in Nigeria however displays a disregard to the 
rule of law and sanctity of human life. This is why of great concern to Nigerians is the 
brutality and impunity with which insecurity is unleashed on the innocent public. 
Generally, therefore, insecurity is unleashed by organized and formidable intolerant 
groups. This display is often characterized by the indignifying, degrading and disdainful 
manner in which the innocent victims are treated. For instance, 

insecurity is often spurred by scenarios when the 
victims are stripped naked before they are gruesomely 
burnt, killed or cut in pieces Some of the victims   are   
riddled with bullets while others are hacked to death 

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with knives, machetes or small axes. Others had 
different parts of their bodies like hands, legs, nose, 
etc., amputated in gruesome manners. Some parts of 
the bodies of these victims like the head, eyes, penis, 
breasts, etc., are taken away while some are buried in 
shallow graves to conceal the act.               Some of 
those buried in shallow graves are often exhumed  by 
animals,   weather   or  climatic  conditions, and  sight  
of them remains prompt reminders of the prevalent 
insecurity in the country   (Chinweuba & Nwobodo, 
2022, pp.36-37). 

Spectacularly, insecurity is characterized by spontaneous attacks. Some of these attacks 
happen at ungodly and unknown hours when the victims are unprepared and least expect 
them. Okoye (2019) attests that insecurity is also characterized by reckless killing of 
innocent people. Adding to these features are unending cases of kidnappings where 
victims are taken captive by the culprits and ransoms demanded are often offset by the 
friends or relatives of the victims to secure the victim's freedom. In some of the scenes of 
insecurity in Nigeria, some victims are often forced to watch as their relatives, children or 
friends are maimed or murdered in cold blood. These features of insecurity are indeed 
punctuated by incessant banditry and arson in which houses, cars, etc., of the victims are 
burnt and valuables like ornaments, documents, money, etc. are carted away.  

Apart from these, insecurity in Nigeria is also characterized by pandemonium, quagmire 
and dilemma that leaves trails of psychological trauma on the public and makes them feel 
uncertain about the future and their lives. Moreover, insecurity in Nigeria often drives 
people away from their locations, homes and communities. These victims often find 
themselves homeless or in internally displaced persons' camps (IDP) where life is 
precarious, uncertain, regrettable as the sense of insecurity continues to linger in their 
psyche.

Rationale behind the Increasing Insecurity in Nigerian Society
Part of the reasons behind the spate of insecurity in Nigeria is the unwillingness of 
Nigerian State actors to tackle the factors behind insecurity decisively. In this direction, 
the perpetrators of insecurity in some parts of the country are pampered by those in 
Government. As such, some of the trials of the captured perpetrators of insecurity 
eventually become a mirage. Many of such culprits from the northern part of the country 
termed repentant also appear to be more compensated by being recruited or absorbed into 
the national army. This is a consistent action that has now compromised the Nigerian law 
enforcement agencies' onslaught against insecurity. This has even made the law 
enforcement agents vulnerable to attacks in which many of them have lost their lives. On 
many occasions, the law enforcement agents had also been instructed not to attack or 
arrest culprits of insecurity especially in the north (Chinweuba & Nwobodo, 2022).  This 
open bigotry also favours culprits sharing similar ethnicity, regions, faith and opinions 
with major stakeholders in Government. It thus stands that insecurity in Nigeria is being 

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propelled by the “selective tolerance” of people in Government. “Selective tolerance” 
points to that tolerance applied only to perpetrators of insecurity from a particular group, 
race, religion, nation, zone and region” (Ding, 2015, p.30). It is on this reality that 
Olumuyiwa, et al., (2019) attest that 

Nigerian government has responded to…ethnic, 
religious, and political unrests with military approach, 
commission reports, and arrests. Yet, these measures 
have been effective, evident in the incessant armed 
insurrection in the country. In few cases
where violence was settled, bringing perpetrators to 
justice becomes a mirage and government has failed to 
address the root causes of such conflicts (p.29).

On the other hand, it is a known phenomenon that many Nigerian politicians use culprits 
of insecurity to achieve their nefarious purpose of capturing power during elections. 
These culprits are as well used by disgruntled Nigerian politicians to rig elections, cause 
mayhem during and after elections. It is on this note that some scholars argue that the 
unending insecurity situations in Nigeria “has a political undertone or inclination 
calculated to serve the interest of certain political gods, who have been dissatisfied and 
disgruntled about the political manifestations in the country” (Achumba, et al., 2013, 
p.79).

Effects of Insecurity on National Development 
National development is the primary goal of every well meaning Government. This 
function is also essentially dependent on funds accruing from economic activities within 
the country. This means that “the GNP and GNI of every society are the tools used to 
foster social development that in turn enhances the existential condition of the citizenry” 
(Chinweuba, 2019, p. 248). A considerable level of economic activities is however 
enhanced by maximum security and stability within the society. Apart from the revenues 
needed for development, the survival of existent development is too dependent on the 
maximal security of the State. In both ways, insecurity has remained an outstanding bane 
of Nigerian national development. It hampers the role of Government in the society, 
threatens business activities and hinders Governments' generation of income.                      

From every index; “the insecurity environment of business in Nigeria” obstructs the 
revenue of Government and weakens its funding of infrastructures that stand as national 
development (Achumba, et al., 2013, p. 83). Thus, an insecure environment of business 
with variables like theft, armed robbery, kidnapping, assassination, bombings, etc., 
deprives Nigerian society of required funds. Therefore, 

the Nigerian insecurity situation can, and in many 
cases, actually halted business operations during the 
periods of violence and also caused the outright 
closure of many enterprises especially in the areas or 
zones where incidences of insecurity is rife and are on 
daily occurrence, in a bid to protect lives of operators 
and business property. Generally, if there is no peace 

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NWEKE & ENYOSIOBI A Philosophical Analysis Of Insecurity In Nigeria...           



and security, it is extremely difficult for businesses to 
survive. Ordinary citizens having small and medium 
scale businesses cannot open shops for business 
transactions (Achumba, et al., 2013, p.89). 

This amounts to halting of Government revenues and by extension national development. 
Besides making life miserable for Nigerians, the unprecedented spate of insecurity in the 
country gives the damaging signal to the international community and potential investors 
that Nigeria is a high-risk zone and thus not safe, secure and suitable for investment and 
business activities. Based on this, many foreign firms and entrepreneurs decline to invest 
and do business in Nigeria (Chinweuba, 2021). As such, Nigerian government now 
grapples with little foreign direct investment whose returns are insufficient for the 
enormous national development at hand. The spate of insecurity in Nigeria also affects 
the so many domestic businesses operating in the country; thereby depriving the State of 
the required financial revenue which would have been used for national development. 
Some of the sources of this insecurity like terrorist bombings have even led to enormous 
loss of life, public infrastructure and property that constitute the existing national 
development. With these, the implication is that insecurity prevailing conundrum in 
Nigeria negatively affects the organizations' of business activities, the entire business 
organization, business operations; production, marketing, finance, human resource and 
Government revenue.

These notwithstanding, insecurity discourage Government investment and make 
proposed investment unattractive to people in Government. This is based on the 
conviction that insecurity prevents conducive environment for its development and 
existence. Similarly, insecure situation increases the cost of national development either 
through direct loss of goods and properties or the cost of taking precautions against the 
risks of insecurity and the prevalent uncertainty within the society. From general 
observations therefore, successive Nigerian Governments spend whooping amounts to 
ensure the security of the citizenry, Government's personnel and infrastructures. This cost 
has serious impact on national development as it reduces the fund allocated to it. As such, 
insecurity remains a drain on national resources at the expense of other sectors of national 
development like health, education, infrastructures, etc.

Nevertheless, insecurity is seen limiting Nigerian available human resources. This is as it 
triggers migration of skilled resources leading to dearth in skilled labour. The fear of 
insecurity limits people's ability to work effectively and consequently hinders their 
general contribution to national development. There are also occasions where skilled 
people become victims of attack and the nation losses experienced human resources. As 
such, human resources are seen migrating out of Nigeria leaving the country with 
manpower shortage that does not augur well for efficient national development. In these 
directions, insecurity frustrates “economic and technological transformation keeping 
Nigeria in a perpetual state of economic dependence, loss of productive human resources 
and general apathy and discontentment” (Omede & Omede, 2015, p. 121). It then 
repackages the country into Hobbesian state of nature where life is “solitary, poor, nasty, 
brutish and short” (Hobbes, 1985, p.186).

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Towards Security and Nigerian National Development
The fight against insecurity in Nigeria has been reactive, devoid of proactive measures 
and modern innovation. This is why it is not yielding lasting results. In order to curb 
insecurity therefore, the Federal Government has to sincerely criminalize incidences that 
leads to crime and criminals has to be treated equally. This is necessary as selective 
tolerance over crime by present Nigerian Government has not ameliorated the increasing 
insecurity in the country. However, it is more efficient to tackle insecurity from its 
sources. Thus, sources of insecurity like national injustice, inequity, marginalization, 
poverty, unemployment, environmental degradation, corruption, porous borders, small 
arms proliferation and human general dissatisfaction has to be addressed. Efforts to tackle 
insecurity in Nigeria will therefore be effective when there is a sincere Government 
intervention that addresses human challenges and dissatisfaction of the vast majority of 
Nigerian population. This intervention has become germane as victims of Government 
neglect have continued to suffer deprivation and injustice; a condition still leading to 
gross dissatisfaction and disaffection that contribute to insecurity. 

To curb the menace of insecurity therefore requires visionary leadership. This is a 
leadership that is detribalized and able to inculcate in the followers the idea of common 
citizenship. It is then imperative for Nigeria to have leaders who would not be limited to 
championing egoistic and frivolous ends but goals that impact positively on the citizenry. 
Only such leaders will mould into harmony the conflicting ethnic and religious 
aspirations that truncate mutual trust and societal security. 

Good governance is thus a fervent panacea to insecurity challenges in Nigeria. The war 
against insecurity in Nigeria would therefore be won by raising governance standards. 
This can be done by cultivating the culture of good governance where the government is 
responsible, responsive and accountable to the people. This is true as insecurity is not 
dissociated from poor governance and its resultant poor human condition. Good 
governance therefore determines peace and security as it drives collective wellbeing 
through planned, effectively implemented policies and human development programs. 

Besides, there is great need for a paradigm shift of values from the current order which has 
driven people to activities that result to insecurity. This is because functional values play 
positive roles in curbing insecurity in a country. Nigeria can therefore get it right as a 
nation only when her values are right. Along this lane, Government at all levels are to seek 
a better understanding of the underlying causes and dynamics of the insecurity in the 
country with the aim of providing effective conflict prevention and management 
strategies to diverse groups and tribes. To overcome insecurity also, there is great need for 
intelligence gathering and surveillance. This will help the law enforcement agents to be 
proactive and reasonably predict potential crime with near-perfect accuracy rather than 
being reactive. Along with this, the fight against insecurity requires the use of modern 
Computer-based Closed Circuit Television cameras (CCTV). This will enhance 
surveillance, investigation of criminal activities, raising of criminal alarms, broadening 
of security tips, disrupting of potential attacks and strengthening of the security system. 
Along this lane, Government must continue to engage the security agencies, avail them of 
modern technological devices for combating crime and ensure their capacity building to 

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meet the global standard. Government must too modernize the security agencies with 
training, intelligence sharing, advance technology, logistics, motivation and orientation 
necessary for their performance. This should be accompanied by provision of incentives, 
good conditions of service, and social security. The necessity of these lies in the fact that 
these will enhance operational capabilities and prompt responses of Nigerian security 
agencies to insecurity challenges. 

The Government must embark on a serious orientation that will make the citizenry 
understand that security is everybody's business. The citizenry must be made to see the 
threats insecurity constitutes to every organization, civil society groups and individuals. 
Everybody must be then convinced to fight insecurity in order to achieve enabling 
environment where genuine ventures will be free, safe and secure.

Conclusion 
This treatise explores the spate of insecurity in Nigeria to determine especially its impacts 
on national development. The study discovers that insecurity is a scenario of uncertainty 
and fear regarding human life and property. This scenario can apart from criminal 
activities be created by poor government policies, austerity measures and approach to 
national issues which portend dire effects on public life. The resulting insecurity not only 
affects individual investments but also national development. As such, insecurity is 
linked to national under-development. This is as it prevents conducive environment 
necessary for infrastructural development, and destroys existing infrastructures that 
stand as national development.
Under the condition of peace and security however, people and government can direct 
their efforts and resources towards improving human life and infrastructures. The best 
means to curb insecurity then is to tackle its propelling sources. This is the area 
Nigerian Governments has neglected for so long; hence the spate of insecurity in the 
country. And coupling with this neglect is the Nigerian Governments' unwillingness or 
inability to decisively confront crimes in some parts of the country. As such, Nigerian 
State has been consistently ranked low in the Global Peace Index (GPI).

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