How to Manage the Security Challenges in Nigeria: A Case Study of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The provision of security and well-being of the citizens of nation is a primary function of every Governments all over the world through the use of instruments of state power, including defense and security agencies, backed-up by enabling laws. For instance, the 1999 Nigerian constitution outlines the role of government and relationship among levels of government in security management. Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria as a whole had suffered myriad of internal security challenges namely; kidnappings and hostage takings, murder, assassinations, armed robberies, cult-related criminal activities and subversion. Others include illegal possession of fire arms, insurgency, economic sabotage, oil pipelines and divergent forms of vandalization, arson and communal clashes due to boundary disputes. This work used Chi-Square formula to analyze the causes of insecurity and the role of government in security management. The study however, focused on security challenges arising from negligence of statutory responsibilities by police personnel due to poor salary, insufficient funding and equipping of security agencies.