Insecurity and national economic development implications for Nigeria’s vision 20: 2020

Abstract

Since the past decade or more, Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented security challenges occasioned by the activities of militants in the south south region, kidnappers in the south east, violent armed robbery in almost parts of the country, political assassination, ritual killings and more recently activities of Boko Haram in some parts of the northern region especially north east. These social menace, when put together impinge on the security of lives and property of both Nigerian citizens and foreigners living or even trying to invest in the country. Thus, more particularly, since
late last year 2011, suicide bombings in some parts of the northern region have put Nigerians and foreigners on their toes. This has become worrisome in the face of Nigeria’s preparedness to be ranked among the twenty (20) developed countries of the world by the year 2020. These social menace trigger off a worrisome sense of insecurity that challenge Nigeria’s efforts towards national economic development and consequently its vision 20:2020. It also scares the attraction of foreign investment and their contributions to economic development in Nigeria. This paper recommends effective leadership and good governance as a panacea to solving problems of insecurity, unemployment, poverty, hunger, disease, etc.

Keywords: Insecurity, Vision 20:2020, Militants, Kidnappers, Armed Robbers, Boko Haram and National Economic Development.