Governance and the Challenges of Insecurity in Nigeria: A Revisitation

Abstract

The rising spate of insecurity in recent times with its concomitant impact on human lives and destruction of property is quite alarming. No doubt the sanctity of human lives has become worthless in our present circumstance making caricature of the primary consideration of government which is security as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution in Section 14 (1) that “the security and welfare of the people shall be a primary purpose of government”. It is against this backdrop that this paper x-rays governance and challenges of human security in Nigeria in recent times where non-state actors are holding sway and desecrating the sanctity of human lives and thereby putting our hard-earned democracy on the edge and the nation at the precipice of disintegration. The paper uses content analysis method in its discourse. It is the conclusion the paper that if the current ugly trends are allowed to fester, the resultant boomerang effect will be a complete breakdown and a reversal in the gains we have made as a democratic state and a further inexorable slide towards a state of anarchy and a total failed state like what we are currently witnessing in places like Somalia etc. The paper recommends among others the need for security architecture and apparatus to be completely overhauled and also well equipped to enhance intelligence gathering and sharing and the political will on the part of government at all levels to be committed to the ideals of good governance and the protection of lives and property.