The Security Watch Network for Good Governance, a group established to promote security initiatives, has called on the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to ensure they play their role in addressing the socio-economic challenges of the country, in order to address insecurity challenges.
In a statement issued by its President, Abdullahi Maikano, and shared with the media, the group emphasised the need for a “whole-of-government” approach to tackling insecurity. It argued that for any lasting solution to emerge, the root causes of insecurity must be properly understood and addressed.
According to the group, there is a clear correlation between poverty and crime in the country. It stated that by confronting poverty head-on, the government would strike a significant blow to criminal activities across Nigeria.
“We must understand that insecurity is a symptom—it stems from deeper issues. In Nigeria, one of the major drivers is poverty and hunger. A large number of those involved in banditry in the North East are driven to these acts out of economic desperation. This is a fact,” the statement read.
“Have you ever heard of anyone who is well educated, gainfully employed, and able to care for their family abandoning that life to become a bandit or join Boko Haram? It doesn’t happen. Poverty and hunger are what push people into these forms of criminality that fuel insecurity.
“It is a socio-economic reality: people in stable economic conditions are far less likely to engage in such crimes. For the government to effectively address insecurity, it must tackle the root causes.”
The group urged relevant government agencies to urgently develop programmes and policies that address the socio-economic hardships pushing citizens into crime.
It further noted that the country’s security agencies, though overstretched have made tremendous impact in addressing critical challenges of insecurity across major hotspots of the country.
The group stated that the security agencies require support from development-focused institutions to deliver non-kinetic solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.
“Often, people think insecurity is simply a matter of bad behavior by a few deviants. But it goes much deeper. Socio-economic factors are also at play. We cannot expect security personnel to solve economic problems. That responsibility lies with those charged with socio-economic policymaking, and they must rise to the occasion.
“All hands must be on deck to address these challenges proactively. With reduced poverty and hunger, we will see a marked decline in criminality,” Maikano added.
The group commended the administration of President Bola Tinubu for prioritising agricultural reforms, social investment programmes, and security sector interventions to address insecurity from a non-kinetic approach.
Maikano also commended the Office of the National Security Adviser for “coordinating both kinetic and non-kinetic responses—working with the military, intelligence services, security agencies, and civil actors—to confront Nigeria’s security crisis.”