Tackling Nigeria Security Challenges for Socio-Economic Development and Sustainability

Nigeria which is often referred to as the ?Giant of Africa? and ?a land flowing with milk and honey? because of her richly blessed array of human, material and natural resources is now becoming a shadow of herself because of the present predicament of plethora of contemporary security challenges ranging but not limited to inadequate security man-power, obsolete/ substandard security equipments, poor funding of security operations and diversion of funds, porous borders, diverse ethnic culture, religious intolerance among others. This paper chronicles the various lapses of security challenges in Nigeria and also gave some of the dire consequences on both the government and citizens alike. Some of these include cult-related activities, political assassination, pipeline/gas pipe vandalization, hostage takings, and kidnapping for monetary ransoms and gains, terrorism, youth restiveness, religious and ethnic riots, insurgency and militia attacks to mention but a few. All these had and still continue to affect Nigeria‘s socio-economic, educational and political development and sustainability. The paper concludes that security departments in Nigeria should be well funded, be given modern and sophisticated weapons and equipments, recruitment, training and re-training of security personnel, good remuneration and other welfare packages among others. It therefore recommends the formulation and effective implementation of policies and programmes to address some of the root causes of insecurity such as inequitable distribution of resources decayed infrastructure, poverty, and unemployment. Also, good governance, access to qualitative and affordable education and religious tolerance are recommended for Nigeria‘s sustainable development.