Former President Muhammadu Buhari, in his inaugural address on May 29, 2015, boldly declared: ‘Insecurity, pervasive corruption, and the longstanding fuel and power shortages are our immediate concerns. We will tackle them head-on.’ This statement underscores the former president’s recognition of corruption as a fundamental factor contributing to Nigeria’s economic challenges. Regrettably, a decade later, the situation remains unchanged. Nigeria, boasting the largest population and economy in Africa, stands as a continental giant. However, despite its impressive stature, the country continues to grapple with pervasive insecurity, manifesting in various forms, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery. Despite many attempts…
Author: Tunde Adeparusi
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is gradually descending into a lawless and criminal social space even as it grapples with a hydra-headed monster of insecurity. From the insurgency of Boko Haram to kidnappings, banditry, armed robbery, ritual killings, communal clashes etc. across various regions of the country, the toll on human lives has been devastating. While headlines often highlight the stark statistics of casualties and abductions (in the case of kidnapping), a more nuanced exploration of the personal stories of victims and survivors reveals the profound, long-lasting, and deeply human cost of insecurity in Nigeria. By shifting the focus to…
Since its emergence in 2002, Boko Haram, a militant Islamist group based in northeastern Nigeria, has posed a relentless and lethal threat. The organization’s extremist ideology, grounded in a rigid interpretation of Islam, advocates for the creation of an Islamic state and the strict implementation of Sharia law. Of course, Boko Haram’s activities have spread beyond Nigeria, affecting neighbouring countries like Cameroon, Chad, and Niger that share borders with Nigeria. The insurgency is responsible for over fifty thousand deaths, displacement of an estimated 4 million people, according to various reports (United Nations inclusive) and widespread destruction. Moreover, according to a…
Nigeria, widely known as Africa’s most populous country, also holds the reputation for being the largest economy on the entire continent. However, the beleaguered country faces a multifaceted crisis that has reached critical proportions. With the current trifecta of crisis: economic depression, acute hunger, and perversive insecurity, Nigeria may plunge into a serious humanitarian catastrophe with a ripple effect that could threaten regional stability and global peace. Therefore, as Nigeria looks ahead to what lies in store, there is a pressing question that demands attention: Can the Nation overcome the triple crisis and pave a path? Nigeria’s economy has traditionally…
It is obvious that things are getting out of hand. The country is sick. Even the government has stopped feigning ignorance of the country’s sickness. It is just too obvious. There may be disagreements and different explanations about what ails the country and how to go about its cure. What is not in dispute is that it is sick. But is Nigeria terminally ill in which case we have to look on as we are all herded to the graveyards? I don’t think it is terminally ill. If the rulers rule to cure the ailing country, things can be better…
The economic and political significance of Nigeria, as the most populous country in Africa with about 224 million people (according to the worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data), can neither be overlooked nor overemphasized. Apart from her contributions to peacekeeping missions in many African countries, generally, Nigeria has played a significant role in developing Africa in terms of her involvement in many regional and continental organizations, such as the African Union, the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), and the United Nations. Interestingly, the significance of Nigeria in the African continent was slightly captured in the observation…
Insecurity across African States is one of the many factors responsible for the stunted economic growth and development in the continent. Terrorism, banditry, ethnic conflicts, farmer-herder conflicts, and the likes, are some of the issues constituting insecurity in many countries in Africa. In all of this, Nigeria, as a country in West Africa, has had her fair share of these problems as adumbrated; A beleaguered Nigeria is faced with different categories of security crises, and all these could be attributed to one major factor; the failure of leadership to address underlying issues and deliver good governance! For example, the immediate…
Nigeria’s democratization, which culminated in the country’s Fourth Republic in 1999, started amidst great hope and expectations. This shift was to herald the dawn of good governance in the country, however it is quite unfortunate that this was not to be, as the political landscape has proven otherwise. There is no proof of good governance since the inception of democratization in Nigeria. For example, the rule of law in Nigeria is just a mere political philosophy established on lips service, elections and electoral processes are monetized, political parties have no ideological premise as, more often than not, party candidates are…
Jihadist terrorism remains the greatest threats to the global communities, more especially in the new age that is fast advancing in technology and knowledge. The problem is not the technology, neither is it the knowledge, but it is the fact that when everything improves, other things (evil inclusive) also improves alongside. This is the real threat the world should dread where terrorism is concerned. Terminating terrorism outright may be a Sisyphean task, but terminating the evil ideology, which is the force that is driving the menace may be the only effective solution to, at least, manage it to the barest…
It may be necessary to critically consider the antecedents of the Nigerian government, particularly the criminal justice system, where recidivism is concerned. This may shed light on what may be playing out in the Nigerian society regarding the sudden capitulation of certain ISWAP-Boko Haram terrorist members as well as the corresponding queer disposition of the Federal Government. It is noteworthy to mention that recidivism is high in Nigeria because the prisons lack adequate rehabilitation services. The correctional facilities are of poor standard. The poor state of the Nigerian prison system; lack of adequate correctional facilities, poor remuneration of probation officers,…
Various theories are employed to seek or unravel mysteries behind unpalatable occurrences. Sometimes, they help improve the existing systems in societies around the world. Many researchers work tirelessly trying to find solutions to societal problems or social issues. Research findings have proved to be of immense benefit to government at various levels (e.g. in areas of policy formulations etc.). It also has direct or indirect impact on the quality of human life in society. Many African nations (Nigeria inclusive) plagued with socio-economic and political struggles are due to lack of certain fundamentals; these are desiderata. The complexity of the challenges…
