Benue State University, Makurdi

Global Security Challenges and Nigeria’s Development: An Appraisal

Itse Joseph ITSE

Abstract

The seeming intractable security and other developmental challenges globally has made the state to become the subject of security rather than the means of providing security for its citizens. It is necessary to point out that the current security challenges and risks in the global security environment are of a military and non-military nature, even though most of them are of a non-military nature. These challenges go a long way in affecting how nations develop and the level of contributions of leaders to development of the society is primarily hinged on the security of the society they preside over. These security challenges and risks are closely interconnected where the situation in one area can seriously affect the situation in other areas. Fears over further increasing the security challenges and the radicalization of nationals are exacerbated by the danger that societies will be incapable of integrating the 1.2 million refugees, asylum seekers, and economic migrants who fled poverty and violence in various parts of the globe. The global security challenges have had devastating effects on Nigeria. This became visible after the Arab Spring which let many Arab nations into serious security challenges. At the end of these uprisings, many of those involved in the fighting found their ways to other nations, Nigeria inclusive. This, it is believed further exacerbated the security challenges that eventually slowed down development in Nigeria. Theories and perspectives such as idealism, realism, neoliberalism and constructivism, functional as well as game theory have viewed the meaning of security differently. The Game Theory seeks to explain the role of different actors or players as being key to the attainment of the objectives of a society or organisation. Generally, its proponents posit that game theory is the formal study of decision-making where several players must make choices that potentially affect the interests of the other player. Discourse on security now includes such issues as economic security, environmental security, food security and human security, national development among others. This paper, through secondary data revealed that security challenges confronting nations today are mutating hence the need for new policies and approaches towards combating them. It therefore recommends that nation states should cooperate and synergise towards the elimination of the new security challenges bedevilling the globe.

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