Political Economy of the Insecurity Impasse in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

This paper assesses the insecurity situation in the northern part of Nigeria and its impact on economic development of the region. The research findings have shown that while there have been several explanations for the on-going security impasses in Northern Nigeria, the problem has primarily been a reflection of the existing political as well as socio-economic gaps between the North and the South. The research further reveals that the situation in the Northern part of the country is aggravated by the deteriorating economic situation in the region which continues to make it an ideal place for Islamic extremists to carry out their reign of terror against government institutions and the Nigerian state at large. The paper also examines the approaches adopted by the government in responding to the insecurity in the region and finds that the approaches so far adopted by the government continue to yield very little results. In-depth study of the situation in the Northern part of the country reveals that the grievances which have resulted in the use of violent tactics against the government are better addressed through a multifaceted approach which takes into account the specific needs of the region. In addition to this, the paper shows that despite some economic gains made in the Northern part, these gains are at risk of being reversed due to the on-going insecurity in the region, which has caused the Northern part of the country to witness a slower pace of overall economic development compared to the Southern part of the country. ii The paper concludes with alternative policy recommendations based on the research findings that point to the peculiarities of the region and which offer a possible avenue for addressing the insecurity impasse in the region.