# Introduction ll over the world, provision of security to guarantee welfare and rights of the citizenry have always been the statutory function of any responsible government which is achieved through the use of instruments and mechanism of state power which, include the use of defence forces and security agencies (covert or overt) backed-up by enabling laws and the constitution. The Nigerian state and its component units have the primary duty to guarantee the welfare of their citizens. In carrying out this mandate, government usually evolve policies and Programmes that are security-oriented for the enhancement of the protection of lives and property of citizens through which a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere for human activities can thrive. Consequently, government receives demands from citizens of the state concerning a great variety of services related to, for example, law and order, defence and security (Agi, 2003:29). Nnoli (2006:7) postulates that security has become a big issue in Africa today because of the forms of carnage, brutality and even genocide associated with incessant civil wars and other forms of violent conflicts on the continent to which Nigeria is not exempted. Security is a robust term used to describe all measures taken to discover, assess and contain threats from hostile intruders. It thus involves the protection of lives and property and the provision of a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere in which individuals can go about their lawful businesses. In a narrow common sense and usage, security as a concept is similar to safety. Security means that something is not only secured, but has become secured (Beland, 2005). This definition makes security a condition of protection against danger or loss. Security in a more general sense, include activities involved in the protection of a country, property or persons against attack, danger, etc. There are internal and national levels of security. Internal security is concerned with issues of security interest occurring within a particular geographical location involving state and local governments whereas; National security on the other hand, is simply immunity from external threat to a country. National Security as a concept has undergone various perspectives from early times. # a) Statement of the Problem Akwa Ibom State has suffered security challenges of various dimensions since its creation in 1987. There have been re-occurrences of security challenges which have outlived solutions as no day passes without the emergence of one security challenge or the other. The increase in criminal activities has continued to pose security management challenges on the state government whose first purpose of protecting lives and property is almost being defeated. Thus, the management of security challenges in the state during the period under review had become problematic. It is in the light of the foregoing that this work is undertaken with a view to examining the nature of the security problems in Akwa Ibom State as well as access the effectiveness or otherwise of the state government's effort in the management of security challenges in the state. # b) Objectives of the Study The objectives of this study are as follows: i. To investigate the genesis and remote causes of high crime rates and growing insecurity in the state. ii. To examine the relationship between politics and insecurity in the state. iii. To make suggestions that would help minimize the problems of insecurity in Akwa Ibom State in particular and Nigeria at large. # c) Research Questions To guide the discussion, the following pertinent questions shall guide us: i. Security as an essential concept is commonly associated with the alleviation of threats to cherished values, especially the survival of individuals, groups or objects in the near future. Thus, security as the name implies, involves the ability to pursue cherished political and social ambitions. According to Nnoli (2006), there is a correlation between security and survival. Whereas survival is an essential condition, security is viewed as safety, confidence, free from danger, fear, doubt, among others. Therefore, security is "survival-plus" and the word 'plus' could be understood from the standpoint of being able to enjoy some freedom from lifedetermining threats and some life choices (Booth, 2007: 15). 'However, the concept-security, is meaningless without a critical discourse of something pertinent to secure. Indeed, security could best be understood when situated within the context, of a referent object. In the long sweep of human history, the central focus of security has been people (Rothschild, 1995:68). Contrarily, some scholars especially those in international politics have argued that when thinking about security, states should be the most important referents. On the other hand, some analysts have challenged this position by arguing that any intellectual discourse on security should accord priority to human beings since without reference to individual humans, security makes no sense (Mc Sweeney, 1999:127). Notwithstanding these controversial debates, the focus of this investigation is on micro security. However, micro security deals with the internal security of which Nigeria is currently mired in a state of obfuscation. Therefore, crux of this study is to examine the security challenges in Nigeria and the extent to which the insurgencies of different militia groups as well as the prevailing internal insurrections across the country have adversely affected the Nigerian economy from 2007-2011. Thus, this is imperative considering the fact that micro security starts with the stabilization of internal security of a given nation state. The essence of this strategy is not only to safeguard the lives of the citizens, but also to achieve the desired economic growth and development in the state. The import of internal security in a state like Nigeria has been carefully articulated by Gbanite (2001): "... when our citizens' right to safety from all kinds of man-made threats are reduced considerably, the government will inherit an increase in foreign investments ... most countries would like a likely trading partner to secure the lives and property of their citizens first before they themselves allow theirs to move into such territories..." To be sure, Nigeria has long been facing severe security challenges prior to 2007. Thus, the internal security challenges in Nigeria since the enthronement of democracy in 1999 has received mixed reactions within and outside the Nigeria's political environment. However, the increasing spate of ethnic militia in Nigeria and their continuous attacks on both the government and the citizens prior to 2007 partly explains why Akinterinwa (2001) # ii. Nigeria and Internal Security Challenges Security is considered as any mechanism deliberately fashioned to alleviate the most serious and immediate threats that prevent people from pursuing their cherished values. In Nigeria, the achievement of desired level of internal security particularly from 2007 -2011 was elusive. The above period witnessed the proliferation of different militia groups that posed serious security threats to the Nigerian government. Thus, such unwholesome behaviours which not only affected economic activities in many parts of Nigeria have also resulted in loss of numerous lives and property of the Nigerian citizens. # iii. Problems Associated with Security Management in Nigeria The main critical elements of security in any country include, the defence forces for external security functions, security intelligence and law enforcement agencies and others such as; Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Civil Societies Organization, Customs, Immigration, Prisons as well as Public, Private and Non-Governmental Actors. However, these agencies are handicapped, hence, poor execution of security responsibilities. This sub-head therefore identifies problems militating against effective performances of these security providers arising from neglect of applying critical elements of security in Nigeria. Some of these problems in Nigeria include, but not limited to the following that Nigeria is made up of over two hundred and fifty ethnic groups with diverse cultures, languages and religious groups and are located in different geopolitical regions with different primordial and tribal attachments, but politically wielded into thirty-six states and a Federal Capital Territory, Abuja at the centre which create internal contending problems as listed below: # iv. Ethnic and Tribal Sentiments The above picture presents unity-in-diversity and portends difficulties in agreement on questions of socioeconomic and political equations when it comes to allocation of limited national resources due mainly to above mentioned diversities based on ethnic considerations and sentiments. These entrenched ethnic and tribal considerations tend to influence and negatively affect performance and effectiveness of security strategies and neutralizes security forces during national emergencies. The most obvious is the human element as an essential of security management imperative in the nation's security policies. The security management in Nigeria has remained ineffective due to poor security awareness of the average Nigerian citizen who see security management as solely a government responsibility. # v. Lack of Public Security Awareness Public security is affecting personal security consciousness amongst Nigerians as Nigerians do not display personal self-control and discipline required for a security conscious citizenry especially, when it comes to official secrecy even in their private lifestyles and conducts in public. Human content, security awareness and consciousness of citizens can galvanize unity and enhance nation's stability and integration. # vi. Bad Attitude of Security Personnel to the Public The military and security personnel highhandedness and attitude towards the citizens have continued to generate bad-public image of the personnel of these security departments which makes the public reluctant to divulge critical security information that can help better security management and prompt responses towards national emergencies. This in turn will affect public relationship between the public and security agencies which form of security communication that should normally be interactional or interpersonally oriented. Interactional or inter-personal oral communication involves not only coming into each other co-presence, but that each interacting entity establishes both mental and metaphysical contact, becomes mutually responsive to each other and finally establishes a shared awareness and understanding of a common, even if mutually unbeneficial goal purpose (Umanah, 1996:5-6). For communication to take place between human beings in any given context, the interacting entities must begin to share a focus, actively attend to each other's behaviour and public acts, and begin to reciprocate such actions and behaviour. Each party must take others into account by actively attending to their interacting selves. When this happens, according to Umanah (1996:2), they move towards or become involved in the exchange of meaning information. This makes communication the process of transmitting mutually understandable and meaningful message information between two or more interacting entities. # vii. Militarization Policy in a Democratic Dispensation The militarization of Nigerian security management terrain even in the current democratic dispensation has reduced the Nigerian police force to a mere-on-looker in internal security management of Nigeria. The above assertion is true more due to poor government funding and equipping of the Nigerian Police Force by past military regimes in Nigeria. The long military rule and continued use of the military in security management in Nigeria though, has contributed in containing domestic crisis situation beyond police capabilities is still seen as a misnomer in a democratic dispensation. Also, the continued presence of military personnel in the oil producing Niger-Delta region has been counterproductive, where their presence in the region, forced the ironically un-employed youths from the oil rich region, to resort in self-defence to arms struggle and reprisal attacks in retaliation of the brutal and punitive military operations against the genuine protests for development of the long neglected, oil producing region, at the detriment of national peace and security in the region till date. According to the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, security provision is managed and overseen within a framework of democratic civilian control, ? A range of state and nonstate actors are also involved in security sector management and oversight (DCAF, 2008). # b) Theoretical Framework i. Structural Functionalist Approach Structural-functionalist theory is used in this work to explain the role of the state as a structure in the state security management arrangement. The state as a structure has certain functions to perform to the political system, including that of managing security challenges for the well-being of the citizenry which role was enshrined in the 1999 Nigerian constitution. Talcott Parson sees "structures" as those arrangements within the system which perform the functions. Almond and Powell (1966) see structures as observable activities which make up political system. It is in consideration of "state" as a structure that has functions to perform, including (tackling security challenges which is an observable activity). Such as managing security challenges confronting the state as a function that justifies the use of this theory. In the opinion of Dowse and Hughes (1972), the term functionalism suggests that society must meet certain individual and group needs such as shelter, nourishment, replacement and a measure of security. In Nigerian case, the review discovered that the state has the constitutional obligation to safeguard lives and property of its citizens as well as maintain law and order. In doing this, the state formulates security policies which are implemented by security agencies on behalf of government for the well-being of its citizens. # ii. The role of government in security management The role of government in security management is rightly confirmed by Crick (1993: 43) stating that: "We wish therefore, to see government as the organ of the state (including the political institutions and structures), which have been granted legitimacy and therefore authorized to carry out the mandate of the state. Such mandate includes the responsibility of carrying out the day to day activities of the state such as the maintenance of law and order, the enforcement of rules and regulations of human conduct, the protection of lives and property and the provision of essential services?". It is imperative to state the different models in terms of security outfit. So, we simply look at the three levels of security models which is very relevant to this study as follows: iii. Three Levels of Security Model (TLSM) The central focus of TLSM is on the relationship between individuals, states and the international system in security management arrangements. The model is referred to as levels 1, 2, and 3 models in security analysis (Buzan, 1983: 9-38). Buzan expounded further that "extensive grey areas exist in the universe of substates and transnational organizations which lie between the individuals, the states, and in the universe of multistates and non-states collectivises which lie between states and the international system as a whole". The model explains the extent to which individuals are the basic referent object of security, how individual security relates to the state as well as the nature of the state as an object of security in global or international context and relations. The theory simply sees 1st level of security as individuals whose lives and property must be protected by the state, while the 2nd level represents National Security and the 3rd, the international system. From the foregoing, security is a collective responsibility involving both governments at the state level, national and individual's levels. The model emphasized a strong relationship between individuals, state and indeed international collaborators in security management. In Buzan's postulation, state has become the mechanism by which people seek to achieve adequate levels of security against societal threats. Instead of providing adequate security to the citizens, the state has become a source of controversy and threats against the individuals. These are in four categories namely; threats arising from domestic law-making and enforcement, threats arising from direct political action by the state against individuals' groups, those arising from struggle over control of state machinery and those arising from the state's internal security policies Buzan (1983:25). # III. # Method of Study a) Study Design The research designs are often referred to as the structuring of investigation aimed at identifying variables and their relationships to one another. In this study, questionnaire serves as useful guide to the effort of generating data for this study. The survey research design through the administration of questionnaires was used for the study. # b) Sampling Technique Sampling was done through the use of simple random sampling using the hat and draw method. There were similarities in various parts of the city in terms of culture, music, mode of dressing and worship. One hundred and forty (140) subjects were used for this study. Both male and female respondents were considered for the research. # c) Test of Hypotheses The Chi-Test statistics was used to test the validity of the hypothesis. X 2 = ? fo-fe 2 fe Where X 2 = Chi-Square Test Fo = Observed frequency Fe = Expected frequency ? = Summation # Hypothesis One The workings of the hypothesis are presented thus: Ho: There are no causes of insecurity in Akwa Ibom State. Hi: There are causes of insecurity in Akwa Ibom State. Testing the first hypothesis was based on data collected from the questionnaire which sought respondents' views on whether there are causes insecurity in Akwa Ibom State which include unemployment, cultism, political thuggery, vandalism, sabotage and prostitution. To establish the validity of the hypothesis, Chi-Square analysis was applied to determine the degree of association. The Chi-square statistics is given as: X 2 = ? fo- # Hypothesis Two The workings of the hypothesis are presented thus: Ho: The governments play no role in the management of security challenges in the country. Hi: The Governments have no role to play in the management of security challenges in Nigeria. Testing this hypothesis was based on data collected from the questionnaire that sought respondents' views on whether internal security can be effectively managed by government if the security agencies are provided with relevant fighting equipment, paid good salaries and priority attention given to their welfare. To establish the validity of the hypothesis, Chi-Square analysis was applied to determine the degree of association. The Chi-Square statistics is given as: At three degree of freedom with 0.05 significance level, the table value of chi-square is 7.81. The calculated Chi-Square as seen in Table Two is 65.16. Since the calculated value is greater than the tabulated value, it therefore follows that the null hypothesis is rejected and the alternative accepted. This means that internal security can be effectively managed by government if the security agencies are provided with relevant fighting equipment, paid good salaries and priority attention given to their welfare. # IV. # Discussion of Findings This section presents the discussion of the major hypotheses directing the study. The result of the first hypothesis made known that there are causes of insecurity in Akwa Ibom State which include unemployment, cultism, political thuggery, vandalism, sabotage and prostitution. The findings of this hypothesis are in line with the position of Gbanite (2001), who maintained that "considering the fact that micro security starts with the stabilization of internal security of a given nation state; the essence of this strategy is not only to safeguard the lives of the citizens, but also to achieve the desired economic growth and development in the nation state. The import of internal security in a state like Nigeria has been carefully articulated thus: "... when our citizens' right to safety from all kinds of man-made threats are reduced considerably, the government will inherit an increase in foreign investments ... most countries would like a likely trading partner to secure the lives and property of their citizens first before they themselves allow theirs to move into such territories..." (Gbanite, 2001). The result of the second hypothesis showed that internal security can be effectively managed by government if the security agencies are provided with relevant fighting equipment, paid good salaries and priority attention given to their welfare. The findings of this hypothesis alluded to the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF, 2008) which stated that "security provision is managed and overseen within a framework of democratic civilian control, rule of law and respect for human rights. Within such a framework, accountability is provided through internal and external supervision of security providers. based on clear responsibilities, a transparent process and responsiveness to the public. A range of state and non-state actors are involved in security sector management and oversight". # V. Conclusion and Recommendation a) Conclusion The discovery of Crude Oil in Akwa Ibom State also contributed to increase of crime rates in the state due to negative attitude of multi-national oil companies that refuse to employ indigenes. Relatively, there is significant relationship between politics and high crime rates and growing insecurity in the country. Based on the result and findings of the study, the following conclusions were made, that: i. There are causes of insecurity in Akwa Ibom State, which include unemployment, cultism, political thuggery, vandalism, sabotage, hooliganism and prostitution. ii. Internal security can be effectively managed by government if the security agencies are provided with relevant fighting equipment, paid good salaries and priority attention given to their welfare as well as collaboration with members of the public. VI. # Recommendation i. The government should ensure an improved salary scale and prompt payment of salaries to security and law enforcement operatives in the country to boost their morale and to make them to settle down and face their statutory responsibilities of protection of lives and property in the society rather than engaging in an ad-hoc duties in order for them to make ends meet. ii. The government at all levels should ensure sufficient and timely funding of security agencies and their operations as well as properly equipping them with 21st Century and contemporary security technologies for increased fire-power to match those of criminals in the society. iii. Government should motivate security agents through good welfare and incentive packages, awards and promotion systems to boost the apparent low morale of security personnel as well as providing life and health insurance, housing and barracks accommodations and good retirement (pension) schemes. II.Review of Related Literature andTheoretical Frameworka) Literature Reviewi. Causes of Heightened Security in NigeriaState of Nigeria?iii. What role does Akwa Ibom State Government andNigeria play in the Management of Securitychallenges between 1999-2011?d) Statement of HypothesisThe following hypothesis guides us in this studyas follows: -Ho1: There are no causes of insecurity in Akwa IbomState.Ho2: The Governments have no role to play in themanagement of security challenges in Nigeria.e) Significance of the StudyThis study will be helpful in many ways:i. Government policy makers will discover that poorsalaries and funding by government are traceable toineffective security management and performanceby law enforcement agencies.ii. The government at state and national levels wouldunderstand the sources of apparent high crimesandinefficiencyinsecuritymanagementmechanisms of the state.iii. Governments would adjust to meet the operationaland administrative needs of these poorlyremunerated security agencies who operate in unitstates and the nation at large. People's Congress (OPC), armed robbery, paid assassins kidnapping of foreigner's, drug trafficking, advanced, free fraud (419), unemployment, high price of commodities ... are realities being faced in the country that require urgent remedies..." 1fe 2feWhere:Fo = Observed frequencyFe = Expected frequency? = SummationDecision Rule:Accept Ho: If the computed x2 value is less than criticalvalueAccept Hi: If the computed x2 value is greater thancritical value 2Year 2020( ) B * An Approach to the Study of Organization of Government SAgi 2003 Pigasiann and Grace International Publishers Calabar * Comparative Politics: A Developmental Approach GAlmond GBPowell 1966 Boston: Little, Brown & Co * US National Security Strategy and Nigeria. The Nigerian Voice Newspaper BAAkinterinwa 2001 2 * The Political Construction of Collective Insecurity: From Moral Panic to Blame Avoidance and Organized Irresponsibility, Centre for European Studies DBeland Working Paper series 126 2005 * KBooth Theory of World Security 2007 * People, State and Fear: The National Security Problem in International Relations BBuzan Great Britain 1983 Wheat sheaf Books Limited * Cited in Nteta-Nna: Concept of State's Power and Responsibility to Citizens MCrick 1993 Springfield Publications Ltd * RDowse JHughes 1972 Political Sociology. London. Springfield Publishers Ltd 2nd ed * National Security and Intelligence in Nigeria under Democracy: The Way Forward MGbanite Next News 4 2001 * Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF 2008 * Security, Identity and Interests: A Sociology of International Relations BMcsweeney 1999 Cambridge University Press London * Security as Protection of Cherished Core-Values of the Citizens ONnoli 2006 Forth Dimensions Publication Enugu * Human Transactions: Communication for Power, Productivity and Profit AUmanah 1996 Dorand Publishers Uyo