Human Security as a Basic Ingredient for the Smooth Running of Society: The Nigerian Experience

Security is an essential component of any establishment’s growth, and without it, there is little progress. This explains why successive Nigerian governments have tried various approaches to restoring the country’s security. The threat to national security is multifaceted, ranging from the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram to Niger Delta extremist activities, rampant kidnappings in the Southeast, robberies, ritual killings and Herders/ farmers clashes across the country. However, the government’s efforts to restore peace in the country have not yielded significant results at various times. This study investigates the effectiveness of human security options in Nigeria as a means of achieving peace. The theoretical framework used in this study is the theory of frustration and aggression and the Marxist theory of structural conflict. And the methodology for the study is qualitative and used secondary sources. However, unemployment, corruption, injustice, poverty, and leadership failure are the major causes of insecurity in Nigeria. However, the burden of the aforementioned challenges necessitates solutions.