Abstract

This study examines critically government and the management of security challenges in Nigeria and to explain its effect on the development of Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive research design. The population of the study was 776,298 (Seven Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety-Eight) of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) out of which a sample size of 200 was taken through cluster sampling technique. Data was analyzed using the Linkert’s frequency scales. Findings from the study showed that the Boko Haram insurgency, Fulani/farmers herdsmen, Religious/ethnic crisis, armed robbery, kidnapping and other criminalities. Also the study found out the causes of security challenges in Nigeria ranges from poverty, socio economic factors, political factors, bribery and corruption and bad governance. It was also revealed that the measures put in place by the government to reduce the security challenges in Nigeria are as follows; through reduction in corruption, through increase in youth employment, by improving the literacy level of the citizens, it can also be addressed through the Religious leaders and lastly through Government organizations/ Non-Governmental organization. The study recommends that the government need to invest on more projects that promote the coexistence of the different ethnic and religious groups.

Keywords: Security, Terrorism, National security, Violence, Crisis, Threat, Corruption