Strategic model for Nigeria’s security and socioeconomic development

Nigeria is confronted with security issues, full of threats on many fronts. Literature is replete on systemic and institutional failure, and overstretched security architecture as some observable reasons for the country’s security breakdown. While these observations may be valid, what seems missing is a well-defined strategic model to handle widespread and systematic security inefficiencies in Nigeria. Arguably, state’s attentions to effective quelling of security threats are seen to be biased and unpopular, and thereby the sustained security breaches are detrimental to the socioeconomic development of the country. Consequently, this paper underscores the weaknesses in state’s institutions and security architecture; and suggests a sustainable security model for human and national security focus in Nigeria. The article adopts a qualitative research method. While utilizing a desk review of secondary materials largely gathered from media reports, academic journals, and government publications, the piece employs interpretive method for data analysis. A review of Nigeria’s security situation reveals that citizens’ role in intelligent gathering has not been adequately utilized by the state due to trust deficit. It concludes by suggesting strategic ways to address this issue for socioeconomic development.