ABSTRACT

This work titled “Security challenges and Small business survival in Abia State: A study of Aba in Abia State” was aimed at determining the implication of insecurity as a major challenge to the survival of small business in Abia State, analyze the role government play by towards curbing security challenges in Abia State and to ascertain the causes of security challenges on the survival of Small business in Abia state. This research was motivated by the level of insecurity as it affects small businesses in Nigeria and Abia State in particular despite their enormous contributions. Democratic Peace Theory was propounded by Michael Doyle in 1998 was adopted to guide the study. A descriptive survey design was adopted to study a population of 1,940 which was reduced to a sample size of 332 using the Taro Yamane formula, and simple random sampling technique was used. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources, structured questionnaire instrument was used for data collection and simple percentage method, and frequency distribution tables were used to analyze the data gotten from the questionnaire instrument whereas Pearson moment correlation was applied in empirical testing of the hypotheses that guided the study. This study revealed that insecurity constitutes a major challenge in the survival of small business in Nigeria and Abia State in particular, government has played significant role towards curbing of security challenges in Abia State and Nigeria at large and there are causes of security challenges on the survival of small business in Nigeria and Abia State. Consequently, it is therefore apparent that national security is a desideratum, sine qua non for business and economic growth and development of any country. The problem of insecurity need to be addressed as entrepreneurs will not be motivated to invest in an unsafe and insecure environment; however, if government continues to improve its security and promote small businesses especially in the area of adequate security, the economy will experience a significant boom. Hence, it was recommended that government should formulate and effectively implement policies and programmes capable of addressing the root causes of insecurity in Nigeria, such as ethno-religious conflict, systemic and political corruption, weak security system and unemployment among others, government should establish a more viable and result oriented agency capable of addressing the problem of abject poverty/unemployment among large population of Nigerians, this will aid in reducing the level of crime and violence in the country, government must be proactive in dealing with security issues and threats, through training, modern methods of intelligence gathering, and intelligence sharing, logistics and deploying advanced technology in managing security challenges. This will add more values in checking incessant bombings, robbery, kidnapping and violent crimes/crises by hoodlums in the country and federal government should include security management in school curriculum at all levels of education in Nigeria.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract i

Approval ii

Certification iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgement v

Table of contents vii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 

 1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Statement of problem 5

1.3 Research question 6

1.4 Objective of the study 6

1.5 Research hypotheses 6

1.6 Significant of the study 7

1.7 scope and limitations of the study 9

1.8 Limitations of the Study 9

1.9 Operationalization of the key concept 10

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 Conceptual framework 12

  Conceptualizing Security Challenges 12

2.1.1 Conceptualizing Small Business 18

2.1.2 Characteristics of Small Businesses 21

2.1.3 Rationale for the Establishment of Small businesses in Nigeria (Abia State) 22

2.2 Implication of insecurity as a major challenge to the survival of small business in Nigeria 25

2.3 The Role of Government towards Curbing Security Challenges in Nigeria 31

2.4 Cause of Security Challenges in Nigeria 34

2.5 Theoretical Framework 42

2.6. Empirical Review 43

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design 47

3.2 Area of the Study 47

3.3 Population of the Study 48

3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Technique 48

3.5 Sources of Data Collection 50

3.6 Instrument for Data Collection 50

3.7 Method of Data Collection 51

3.8 Validity and Reliability of the Instrument 52

3.9 Method of Data Analysis 54

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Data Presentation 55

4.2 Test of Hypotheses 63

4.3 Discussion of Major Findings 66

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary of Findings 71

5.2 Conclusion 71

5.3 Recommendations 72

References 73

Appendix1 76

Appendix II 77