Advertisement

Youth and Nigeria’s Internal Security Management

Chapter
First Online:
  • 310 Downloads

Abstract

One of the major challenges confronting Nigeria is insecurity which hinders national development. The problem of insecurity includes menace of ethnic militias across the country, insurgency in the north, militancy in the Niger Delta, kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism all over the country. The government and other partners recognise that national security is a precondition for maintaining the survival, growth and development of a State. It is also well known that the army of unemployed and idle youth population of the country is the major group perpetrating these security problems across the country. Given the realisation of the government that the problem of insecurity needs to be tackled as panacea to the socio-economic development of the country, several solutions have been applied. The option of youth empowerment is believed to possess the capacity of not only keeping the youth busy but putting food on their table and thereby making incentive to engage in actions that promote insecurity unattractive. The youth empowerment programmes including the Amnesty Programme, YouWin and N-Power, among others, were some of the programmes implemented. What is the impact of these programmes as a strategy of managing insecurity in the country? To what extent are these programmes impacting on the socio-political and economic development of the country? What are the challenges in the implementation of these programmes? This chapter attempts to provide answers to these questions. The data used in this chapter were collected largely from documentary materials and analysed using descriptive analysis.

Keywords

Youth Empowerment programmes National security Insecurity 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. Adepoju, A. (2012). Towards rehabilitating the violent militant African youth: A psychoanalysis of the distressed Niger Delta mother in Ahmed Yerima’s Hard Ground. The African Symposium, 12(1), 14–28.Google Scholar
  2. Adinlofu, E. (2009). Jos riot and the dead man’s footsteps. INigerian.com, February 4. Retrieved from http://www.inigerian.com/jos-riots-and=the=dead-mans-footsteps/.
  3. Akpedji, G. (2015). YouWin awardees protest non-payment of second, third tranches. Guardian Newspapers, November 9. Retrieved from http://www.guardianngr.com/youwin-awardees-protest-non-payment-of-second-third-tranches/.
  4. Amaize, E., Onah, G., & Oyadongha, S. (2009). Amnesty and militants arms surrender: How far? Retrieved January 20, 2017, from http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/09/amnesty-and-militants-arms-surrender-how-far/.
  5. Cargo, M., Grams, G. D., Ottoson, J. M., Ward, P., & Green, L. W. (2003). Empowerment as fostering positive youth development and citizenship. American Journal of Health Behavior, 27(Supplement 1), 66–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. CEI. (2017). Youth enterprise with innovation in Nigeria (YouWin). Retrieved from https://cei.ui.edu.ng/youth-enterprise-innovation-nigeria-youwin.
  7. Chinman, M. J., & Linney, J. A. (1998). Toward a model of adolescent empowerment: Theoretical and empirical evidence. Journal of Primary Prevention, 18, 393–413.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Chukuezi, C. O. (2009). Poverty and youth restiveness in Nigeria: Implications for national development. Ozean Journal of Social Sciences, 2(2), 97–103.Google Scholar
  9. De Boeck, F. (1999). Domesticating diamonds and dollars: Identity, expenditure and sharing in Southwestern Zaire (1984–1997). In B. Meyer & P. Geschiere (Eds.), Globalization and identity: Dialectics of flow and closure (pp. 177–209). Oxford: Blackwell.Google Scholar
  10. Duruji, M. M. (2008). Changing context of ethno-nationalism in Nigeria. UNILAG Journal of Politics, II(1), 77–103.Google Scholar
  11. Duruji, M. M., & Azuh, D. (2016). The dynamics of Niger Delta in Nigeria’s cultural politics. Wilberforce Island Review: A Journal of the Faculty of Arts, 13(1), 19–54.Google Scholar
  12. Enoh, C. (2009). Up to 15,000 Nigerian gunmen took amnesty-govt. Reuters, October 8. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/15000-nigerian-gunmen-took-amnesty-govt.
  13. Ewetan, O. O., & Urhie, E. (2014). Insecurity and socio-economic development in Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development Studies, 6(1), 40–63.Google Scholar
  14. Francis, F., Olawale, I., & Monica, S. (2015). Rethinking youth, livelihood and fragility in West Africa: One size doesn’t fit all. Washington, DC: World Bank.Google Scholar
  15. Gilbert, L. D. (2010). Youth militancy, amnesty and security in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. In V. Ojakorotu & L. D. Gilbert (Eds.), Checkmating the resurgence of oil violence in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.Google Scholar
  16. Hazen, J., & Horner, J. (2007). Small arms, armed violence, and insecurity in Nigeria: The Niger Delta in perspective. Geneva: Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International Studies.Google Scholar
  17. Honwana, A., & de Boeeck, F. (2005). Introduction. In A. Honwana & F. de Boeck (Eds.), Makers and breakers: Children and youth in postcolonial Africa. Oxford: James Currey.Google Scholar
  18. Ihenetu, D. (2015). Apply for YouWin (Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria) Business Grant 4th-Edition. Retrieved from https://nigerianscholars.com/apply-for-youwin-youth-enterprise-with-innovation-in-nigeria-business-grant-4th-edition/.
  19. Ike, A., Omon-Julius, O., Segun, J., & James, S. (2009). Presidency: After amnesty, Yar’Adua to restore order in N’Delta. Thisday, October 5.Google Scholar
  20. Ikelegbe, A. (1998). Popular and criminal violence as instruments of struggle in the Niger Delta region. In C. Obi & S. A. Rustad (Eds.), Oil and insurgency in the Niger Delta managing the complex politics of petro-violence (pp. 125–135). London/New York: Zed Publishers.Google Scholar
  21. Ikelegbe, A. (2006). Beyond the threshold of civil struggle: Youth militancy and the militia-ization of the resource conflicts in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. African Study Monographs, 27(3), 87–122.Google Scholar
  22. Inokoba, P. K., & Imbua, D. L. (2010). Vexation and militancy in the Niger Delta: The way forward. Journal of Human Ecology, 29(2), 101–120.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. Isumoha, A. Y. (2004). The making of Ogoni group. Africa, 74(3), 434–451.Google Scholar
  24. Jennings, L. B., Para-Mcdina, D. M., Mesias, D. K. H., & Mcloughlin, K. (2006). Youth Participation and Community Change. Haworth: Haworth Press. Retrieved from http://www.haworthpress.com/web/COM.Google Scholar
  25. Kim, S., Crutchfield, C., Williams, C., & Hepler, N. (1998). Toward a new paradigm in substance abuse and other problem behavior prevention for youth: Youth development and empowerment approach. Journal of Drug Education, 28(1), 1–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Koripamo-Agary, T. (2010). Youth empowerment: Panacea for peace and development. Paper presented at the Ajasin Foundation Colloquium, Lagos, November 24.Google Scholar
  27. Maududi, A. A. (1989). The role of Muslim students in the reconstruction of Islamic world. Kuwait City: Al-Faisal Press.Google Scholar
  28. Mireanu, M. (2014). Vigilantism and security, state violence and politics in Italy and Hungary. Doctoral thesis submitted to the School of Politic and International Relation. Budapest, Hungary: Central European University.Google Scholar
  29. Nigerian Tribune. (n.d.). FG concludes recruitment of 200,000 youths for teaching, agriculture, public health. Retrieved from https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/42903/.
  30. Nugent, R. (2005). Youth in a global world. Population Reference Bureau. Retrieved from www.prb.org/pdf06/YouthInAGlobalWorld.pdf.
  31. Obi, C. (2000). Oil and the politics of transition in Nigeria. In B. Onuoha & M. M. Fadakinte (Eds.), Transition politics in Nigeria, 1970–1990. Lagos: Malthouse Press.Google Scholar
  32. Ogbuenyi, N. (2009). Amnesty and peace in N’Delta. Thisday, October 9, 20.Google Scholar
  33. Ogunbiyi, T. (2016). Between Boko Haram and Fulani Herdsmen. The Sun, May 3. Retrieved from http://sunnewsonline.com/between-boko-haram-and-fulani-herdsmen/.
  34. Ojakorotu, V. (2009). Militancy and oil violence in the Niger Delta. Journal of Energy Security. Retrieved from http://www.ensec.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=211:militancy-and-oil-violence-in-the-niger-delta&catid=98:issuecontent0809&itemid=349.
  35. Ojakorotu, V., & Dodd, G. L. (2000). Checkmating the resurgence of oil violence in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Integrity, Nigeria. Retrieved from http://integritynigeria.org/checkmating-resurgence-oil-violence-niger-delta-nigeria/.
  36. Onuorah, M. (2009). Panel releases details of amnesty process. The Guardian, June 27, p. 1.Google Scholar
  37. Osaghae, E., Ikelegbe, A., Olarinmoye, O., & Okhomina, S. (2007). Youth militias, self-determination and resource control struggles in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria. Consortium for Development Partnerships (CDP), Research Report N2 2008, 1–128. Dakar: CODESRIA.Google Scholar
  38. Page, N., & Czuba, C. E. (1999). Empowerment: What is it. Journal of Extension, 37(5). Retrieved from https://www.joe.org/joe/1999october/comm1.php.
  39. Rappaport, J. (1987). Terms of empowerment/exemplars of prevention: Toward a theory for community psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 15(2), 121–148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. Small, S., & Memmo, M. (2004). Contemporary models of youth development and problem prevention: Toward an integration of terms, concepts, and models. Family Relations, 53, 3–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. Strouse, T. (2009). Will Nigerian amnesty campaign have a lasting impact on the delta insurgency. Terrorism Monitor, VII(32), 7.Google Scholar
  42. Sulaiman, K. O. (2012). Religious education as panacea to youth militancy in the Niger Delta of Southern Nigeria. Journal of Intellectual Archive, 1(8), 17–39.Google Scholar
  43. Uche, O. (2017). Everything wrong with the H-Power youth empowerment scheme. Techpoint.ng, July 11. Retrieved from https://techpoint.ng/2017/07/11/n-power-empowerment/.
  44. YES. (2017). The YES! Youth empowerment model definition. Youth empowered solutions. Retrieved from http://www.youthempoweredsolutions.org/the-yes-youth-empowerment-model-definition/.
  45. Zimmerman, M. A. (2000). Empowerment theory: Psychological, organizational, and community levels of analysis. In J. R. E. Seidmann (Ed.), Handbook of community psychology. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© The Author(s) 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Political Science and International RelationsCovenant UniversityOtaNigeria

Personalised recommendations

Cite chapter

Buy options