Resolving Nigeria’s Security Conundrum: A Comprehensive Regional Analysis

Abstract This article analyses the regional variabilities of insecurity in Nigeria to propose a suitable approach to understanding their peculiarities. It argues that the dominant military interventions and one-size-fits-all approaches are inappropriate for resolving the country’s myriad security challenges. The Regional Security Complex Theory offers a theoretical basis to contextualise the complex security challenge in Nigeria. There is a need to unbundle the dynamics for each of the regions. Syntheses from the six geopolitical zones indicate that although the security challenges manifest in precarious living conditions, the drivers differ. The article recommends that interventions analyse and identify underlying factors for each region and adopt a suitable and sustainable approach to resolving the insecurity. Keywords: Nigeria, Insecurity, Regions, Livelihoods, Diversity