Nexus Between Insecurity, Poverty and Governance in Nigeria: An Exploration of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

Poverty and its myriad astronomical trends and dimensions cannot be overemphasized while locating it within the context of increasing insecurity and poor governance in Nigeria. This study therefore explored the symbiotic relationship between insecurity, poverty and governance in Nigeria. The paper posited that the issue of poverty is essentially a multi-faceted phenomenon of bad leadership and governance, dependent and unproductive economy as well as poor patronage of Nigeria’s indigenous technology. Using the secondary method of data collection and analysis, this paper poised that developmental processes in Nigeria that could lead to poverty eradication with its attendant consequences on national security were unconventionally derailed at an alarming rate such that it snowballed and restricted the contested spaces and chances for expansion in Nigeria’s national security. Poverty governance and national security flaws metamorphosed in such a way that the poor masses as a means to register their discontent took arms against the state which manifest itself in various forms; the Niger Delta and the Boko Haram insurgency, Kidnapping, Banditry among others. From the foregoing trends and developments of poverty and national security in Nigeria, the study concluded by recommending for a transformational leadership as the panacea for poverty, insecurity and poor governance as a condition for a better Nigeria.