Annals of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria 20(1) 2015 DOI: 10.36108/ssan/1502.02.0120
Prevalence, Pattern and Consequences of Insecurity in Nigerian Cities
Etannibi E. O. Alemika
Abstract
Nigeria’s democratic transition and economic development are being threatened by insecurity. Since the return to civil rule in 1999, the nation has suffered several violent conflicts in which thousands of lives were lost. In this study, we analysed the prevalence and effects of insecurity in eleven Nigerian cities. Based on the data collected from 2,750 respondents in 11 cities, we find that violent conflicts are generally precipitated by ethnic, religious and electoral grievances. However, we also find that the salience of these factors in violent conflict vary across cities. The major effects of insecurity in Nigerian cities were homelessness (internal displacement), loss of employment, destruction of educational institutions, increased criminal activities, and high food prices. Nigerians were generally dissatisfied with the police, which they perceive as ineffective in preventing or curtailing violent conflicts. The findings underscore the need for policies aimed at strengthening national integration through programmes and actions that protect the rights of citizens to religion, residence, political inclusion and equal access to social services provided by government without discrimination on grounds of ethnicity, religion, place of birth and origin, gender and political association