Insecurity In Nigeria: A Reflection Of Bad Governance In Nigeria -By Miracle Obianujunwa Yakubu

ABSTRACT

This article explains Nigeria’s insecurity crises beyond recorded accounts of banditry and terrorism. While the government focuses on gaining power and recognition over the upcoming election of 2027, insecurity has become an everyday occurrence which security agencies in Nigeria seem incapable of handling: kidnapping, bombing, armed robbery, to mention but a few. This article therefore examines the causes of insecurity and government’s reaction towards it. It is well known in Nigeria today that the over 40 abducted children in Oyo State are still in the wilderness of Nigeria with the government doing nothing about it. This article suggests that Nigerians should vote for peace and their rights rather than voting because they are forced to.

The high rate and increasing number of deaths and killings in Nigeria is perturbing as insecurity rises daily. Come to think of it, the Nigerian leaders are nowhere to be found now as the citizens lay their complaints and cry every day on the internet. Or is it that they have suddenly gone deaf to the pleas of the citizens? Didn’t they promise to give us a better life as our leaders? Where are the promises they made at their campaign? Or is it when the whole of Nigeria vanishes that they would start listening?

Across Nigeria today, insecurity has become a national condition. Apart from insecurity, traders and middlemen watch inflation rise everyday. No wonder the rise in the price of goods, when farmers are left with the choice of being kidnapped in their cultivating farmlands or rather staying at home. But what is the need of running away from their source of income when even the home is not safe anymore and hunger strikes.

At home, recurring attacks on schools and the abduction of pupils and teachers have left many parents worried about the safety of their children. The abduction of forty-six (46) students in Oyo state on May 15, 2026 (Vanguard News) and the silence of the president on the issue is shocking, as neither him nor his vice has spoken or disclosed any information about the kidnap.

Citizens are left with the question: when is Nigeria going to be better? Meanwhile, political conversation is already focused with permutations for the 2027 election, even as the citizens grapple with the pressures of life. Effective leadership requires the ability to anticipate challenges, build institutions, and inspire public confidence (Colin L. Powell, Oct 18, 2021). The consequence of non-effective leadership is now visible in the country’s security situation.

What began as an insurgency in the Northeast with the emergence of Boko Haram in the early 2000s—which gained global attention after the 2014 abduction of the Chibok girls—has now evolved into a national security crisis. Banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism now affect communities across the country. Nations rarely fail because they lack resources; they falter when leaders cannot organize their resources around a coherent vision and effective institutions.

Citizens also bear responsibility. Nigeria is a country that rewards tribalism over competence. Nigerians excuse corruption when it benefits their preferred group. It is very glaring in the hearts of Nigerians, so we shouldn’t be surprised when or how bad governance comes in. Some Nigerians prefer not to cast votes at all and then, after the election, come out to accuse the government of bad leadership. Why didn’t you come out to vote?

The election is coming up again and we have a lot of Nigerians who are ignorant of this fact, forgetting that the nation’s security and progress is not only in the hands of the government but also in the hands of the people. Nigerians must learn that political apathy is a doorway to bad governance, and so everyone must be politically active and wise when choosing leaders.

There is a clear need for proactive measures to curb insurgency in the country (Sanusi, 2014). The government owes its duty to provide a means of livelihood and survival for the citizens. According to Sanusi (2014), ‘No matter how much we spend on insecurity, there will be no security until these people have food on their table.’ This is true because the hunger in the country has made many people, especially youth, turn to crime as a means of survival.

What’s the need of BVN (Bank Verification Number) and NIN (National Identification Number) when we don’t use them for what they were created for? Or are they just for fashion? The BVN, according to Adeola and Oluyemi (2012), is a veritable means of citizen identity to aid criminal investigation. The government should adapt this method to prosecute offenders of the law, and offenders caught or charged with any criminal offense should be punished severely.

Also, the Nigerian Police should recruit or rather post policemen and women to their various states and communities of origin, as this would give them the zeal to work because they know they are working for the benefit of their own community (Krahman, 2003). Training should also be improved for plain-clothes detectives (Jega, 2002).

According to Eric (2017), the acquisition of skills will go a long way in reducing the rate of unemployment. Citizens and the government should work hand-in-hand to reduce and eradicate unemployment in the country. Also, self-discovery can limit unemployment as people have different skills and talents, and the government should be able to sponsor them. In fact, in Nigeria today, unemployment is one of the major causes of insecurity, and implementing these steps can reduce insecurity drastically.

Insecurity is a global problem that affects all countries in the world. Nigeria is faced with security challenges which include unemployment, terrorism, corrupt leaders, and religious and ethnic violence. This is a huge obstacle to the development of Nigeria as a country. The leaders themselves are not complying and helping matters as they are focused on recognition, wealth accumulation, and greed, forgetting their duties as leaders of the nation.

The causes and solutions to insecurity as discussed in this article will be of great value to researchers and scholars. However, leaders and scholars can initiate research concerning how to tackle insecurity. In addition to that, policymakers and others in the field of national development should embrace solutions to address insecurity and mitigate security challenges in Nigeria for national development and growth.

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