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The Challenge of Kidnapping in Nigeria: A Conflict-Security Analysis of Causes, Consequences, and Strategic Responses.
No full textThis article examines the challenges of kidnapping in Nigeria: causes and consequences. The paper unveiled some common causes of kidnapping and their consequences in Nigeria as a nation state that is characterized by poverty, unemployment, insecurity, corruption, weak institutional framework and poor policy implementation. Qualitative source of data collection was employed for the realization of this work. This study indicates that the current wave of kidnapping has aggravated massive unemployment, worsened unemployment and creates an unfriendly environment for economic development. The Federal Government has yet to realise that massive job creation, improved political structure, and resolution of internal grievances are the measures that would cure or minimise the commission of this criminality. The government should thus become proactively visible throughout the nation via its security agencies and economic development agenda. We therefore recommend sound policy programs that are youth-friendly and such policies that will tackle major internal grievances among the nation’s youths
Whistle-Blowing Scheme and Credibility of Intelligence Reporting in the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria
No full textThere is no doubt that the legal framework for fighting corruption has been less effective, probably because it is evidence-based. The whistle-blowing scheme was, therefore, introduced to tackle corrupt practices and provide a means of recovering stolen public funds in Nigeria. Since the scheme's launch in 2016, several studies have analysed its efficacy as an anti-corruption strategy. This paper therefore examines whistle-blowing and the credibility of intelligence reporting in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. This paper addresses the research question using the big four anti-corruption agencies (ICPC, EFCC, CCB, and NEITI) as the respondents for the study to test the research hypothesis. A total sample size of 275 was used for the study. This study uses the regression analysis method to investigate the effects of whistle-blowing on the credibility of intelligence reporting in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. The study uses adjusted R2 as a primary metric for measuring the model specification. The results show that the R square, the coefficient of determination, reveals a high value for all the parameters (ICPC- 72.8%, EFCC- 61.2%, CCB- 58.2%, NEITI- 64.0%) in explaining the model. The empirical findings show that whistle-blowing adoption positively correlates with the credibility of intelligence reporting in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. This paper recommends that strengthening the whistle-blowing scheme (passing of the whistle-blowing bill into law) and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability will contribute to the fight against corruption without fear of reprisal. Establishing robust support systems and legal frameworks will enhance the credibility of intelligence reporting, ultimately leading to more effective anti-corruption efforts.
Keywords: Whistle-blowing; credibility; corruption; accountability; transparency
Climate Change, Crises, and Food Security in Africa
No full textAfrica is the region with the lowest total and per capita greenhouse gas emissions in the world, but it bears the brunt of the adverse effects of climate change. Due to its special geographical location, spanning north and south of the equator, Africa has a vast territory, a large population, and a diverse climate, and its economic and social development is relatively lagging behind, especially the low urbanization and industrialization rates, a large agricultural population, and huge inter-regional climate differences. The existing research mainly focuses on climate change, crises, and food security in Africa. The research theme of this paper is the impact of climate change on food security in Africa; using the literature research method, we study the impact of climate change situation on food security in Africa; the purpose of the research is to draw the attention of the international community to climate change and food security; increase the attention and support to Africa, so that Africans can enjoy a better livelihoods. Amartya’s Entitlement Failure Theory was adopted for this research. The paper relied on secondary data and personal observations. We adopted Amartya’s Entitlement Failure Theory for a better explanation in this paper. The paper relied so much on secondary data and personal observations. Food sufficiency in Africa will solve to a large extent, the problem of food shortage and hunger across the globe because of the natural advantage the continent has over other continents of the world. The challenge is the incessant political instability and the level of poverty in Africa
Search For Common Ground and Peace Building in North Central Nigeria
No full textAbstract
Since the end of the Cold War, the nature of violent conflict has shifted from primarily interstate to intrastate, often mobilised around identity, ethnic, and religious lines. Nigeria reflects this trend, with persistent farmer–herder clashes, ethno-religious tensions, kidnapping, banditry, and resource-based disputes affecting multiple geopolitical zones. These conflicts have generated displacement, loss of lives, and socio-economic disruption. State responses have largely been militarised, achieving temporary stability or “negative peace,” while non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have increasingly stepped in to foster sustainable, “positive peace.” This article examines the role of NGOs in peacebuilding in North Central Nigeria, with a particular focus on Search for Common Ground (SFCG). Using John Paul Lederach’s Conflict Transformation Theory as an analytical lens, the study emphasises relationship-building, inclusive dialogue, and structural change as pathways toward sustainable peace. Fieldwork was conducted in 6 Local Government Areas of Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa States, employing 29 key informant interviews and 12 focus group discussions with men and women. Findings reveal that SFCG has advanced peacebuilding through dialogue facilitation, youth empowerment, intergroup mediation, media programming, and capacity building of local actors. These interventions contributed to rebuilding trust, reducing tensions, and improving intercommunal relations. However, challenges remain, including limited funding, weak collaboration with government institutions, and difficulties in mainstreaming local initiatives into broader policy frameworks. The study highlights the complementary role of NGOs in bridging the gap between negative and positive peace, providing lessons for more integrated, community-driven, and sustainable peacebuilding strategies in Nigeria
Nigeria’s Leadership Deficit As Nation’s Albatross
No full textNigeria leadership prospects on the continent have come under scrutiny over leadership deficit at both the national and sub-national levels. While this leadership deficit continues to be a setback, this leadership deficit is now the greatest hindrance to the development of the country. The methodology of this paper is analytical, with case studies drawn from successive political office holders who appear unprepared for the office they occupy. This is done to spotlight the leadership deficit that the country faces with a view to finding lasting solutions to the issue. Findings revealed that the leadership deficit that the country faces today is chiefly attributable stems from the faulty leadership recruitment process in the country. The rushed transition in 1960 and 1999 ensured that persons who emerged at the national and sub-national levels for both executive and legislative positions were largely unprepared for the challenge of office, nor had the requisite knowledge and skills required to steer the ship of nationhood. The paper concludes that leadership is the greatest albatross that the nation is confronted with today, taking a toll on governance and development. This paper recommends the discontinuation of the current model of recruiting leaders. It also recommends the establishment of new institutes and as well as expansion of the scope of the existing to train prospective leaders in the art and skills of leadership in order to turn around the fortunes of the country
AN ANALYSIS OF THE DISTORTION BETWEEN ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POVERTY RATE IN NIGERIA
No full textPositive growth rate, from the neoclassical perspective, is synonymous to increase in economic prosperity, resulting to a long –run negative effect on poverty incidence. However, the Nigerian economy presents a distortion of this relationship and expectation. The economic expansions that characterized the economy, reflected in the sustained positive growth rate in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has not impacted negatively on the country’s poverty population. Explaining this distortion, this paper demonstrates that the presence of growing inequality in income distribution exists as a standbetween variable, weakening the effectiveness of economic growth in spreading the gains of prosperity. Thus, economic growth and poverty incidence in the country change in the same direction; instead of economic growth exerting a depressing effect on poverty rate, the rate of inequality in income distribution depresses the real GDP growth rate, hence counters the desired impact that it should have had on the poverty incidence. The above results were preceded and revealed by Multiple Regression analysis and Wald
Test Coefficient Restriction of poverty incidence as a function of economic growth rate and Gini coefficient. In this paper, eliminating or substantial reduction in the rate of inequality in income distribution, through the imposition of property and expenditure taxes to the setting up of National Welfare Scheme targeted at the poor, are suggested as ways through which economic growth in the short-run can result to reduction in poverty level
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POWER AND POLICY PROCESS: A CRITICAL REVIEW
No full textPower and the policy process are two intrinsically connected phenomena upon which societal rules are based. In non-democratic societies, the powers that shape decision/policy making process use to be that of the tyrant/monarch and his closest allies. However, in modern day democracies, policy processes are overseas by political authorities through direct citizens' participation in all the stages of the policy formulation - agenda setting, proposal, interest aggregation to the implementation and evaluation. In this sense therefore, power influences which issues are addressed, how policies are formulated, and how they are implemented. In other words, powerful individuals, media, civil society organizations and other state and non-state actors have always been an important element in shaping the nature and direction of policies in today's civilized social settings. Thus, power and policy processes are always along a single linear process. The specific aim of this research is to investigate the reciprocal impact of policies on power dynamics. Literature on power, policy, policy process and many other relevant issues were reviewed thematically with a view to having a rigorous understanding of the cases under study. Luke's three dimensions of power theory was used as the theoretical framework of the research. Having fully relied on secondary data, the research used content analysis method in analysing the existing relations between power and policy process. Based on this, the research revealed that, In the realm of policy making, various sources of power emerge, including political, economic, expertise, public opinion, media, and institutional structures. simply put, power plays in all the stages of policy making processes. The paper recommended that policy makers should seek out and include diverse perspectives in policy-making process and also promote inclusivity to avoid policies that inadvertently perpetuate existing social inequalities
Exploring Theoretical Framework: Propensity of Nigerian Indigenous Construction Firms for Expansion into the International Market
No full textExpansion of firms into the International Construction Market (ICM) is a well-established area of research in international construction literature. However, in Nigeria studies were mainly on the plight of Nigerian Indigenous Construction Firms (NICFs) and the dominance of the Nigerian construction industry by Multinational Corporations (MNCs). It is a matter of concern that there is no known study that explored the internationalisation of NICFs with a view to integrating NICFs into the ICM in view of the benefits which include prestige, opportunity for growth, increased profits, risk sharing among others. This paper presents a theoretical framework for expansion of NICFs into the ICM with a view to integrating NICFs into the ICM. The paper used the literature review approach and content analysis for the study and adopted three independent but interrelated theories; the Resource based view theory, the Network theory, and the Institutional theory to explain the internationalisation of NICFs, and to develop the theoretical framework. The research has implications on theory, policy and practice: It will elicit government’s support towards policy formulation on internationalisation and positively influence managers of NICFs to strategically consider expansion of NICFs into the ICM. It will also stimulate further research into this important area in Nigeria and the Diaspora
CHINA–NIGERIA TRADE RELATIONS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: A DEPENDENCY THEORY PERSPECTIVE
No full textAmid Nigeria’s growing economic engagement with China, concerns have emerged about the long-term implications of this partnership for sustainable economic development. This study analysed the dynamics of China–Nigeria trade relations, anchored on dependency theory. A quantitative methodology was adopted, utilizing data from the UN Comtrade Database, Chinese Customs Authority, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and peer-reviewed academic literature. Descriptive statistical methods, including trend analysis and import-export ratios, were employed to assess bilateral trade flows between Nigeria and China from 1999 to 2023. The findings revealed a consistent upward trajectory in trade volume over the 24 years, alongside a deepening asymmetry. The study also revealed that Nigeria exported 1.2 billion in imports. By 2023, exports had increased modestly to 18.99 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $17.38 billion. This persistent imbalance, coupled with Nigeria’s continued export of raw materials, confirms a structural dependency in the trade relationship and constrains sustainable economic development. The study recommended that Nigeria should implement a strategic export diversification plan by incentivizing non-oil sectors such as agro-processing, solid minerals beneficiation, and light manufacturing. Bilateral trade agreements with China should also be revised to improve market access for Nigerian products. Furthermore, the government should establish an industrial policy council to integrate trade, investment, and education strategies in support of long-term industrialization
CONTEMPORARY IMPORTANCE OF COLONIAL LEGACY OF NIGERIA’S RELATIONS WITH HER NEIGHBOURS
No full textThe colonial legacy continues to exert a profound influence on Nigeria’s relations with its neighbouring states in West and Central Africa. This study examined the contemporary significance of that legacy, with a focus on the political, economic, and socio-cultural dimensions of interstate interactions. Using a historical–analytical approach, it explored how colonial-era boundaries, administrative practices, and economic linkages, largely crafted by British and French colonial powers, shaped patterns of cooperation, competition, and conflict in the post-independence period. The paper discovered that the persistence of artificial borders, cross-border ethnic linkages, and inherited diplomatic orientations still frames Nigeria’s engagements with neighbours such as Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. While these legacies have at times fuelled disputes over territory, migration, and resource control, they have also provided frameworks for regional integration efforts through bodies like ECOWAS and the Multinational Joint Task Force. It also revealed how Nigeria’s foreign policy and security strategies remain tethered to colonial-era realities, even as globalization, economic interdependence, and transnational threats reshape the regional environment. The paper recommended that understanding this enduring colonial imprint is crucial for crafting diplomatic, security, and economic policies that promote stable and mutually beneficial relations with neighbouring states