Terrorism and Nigeria’s National Development

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue XII, December 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Terrorism and Nigeria’s National Development

Ezeadilieje, Ella Chioma¹, Wonah, Emmanuel^2
1Doctoral Candidate, Department of Political and Administrative Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Port Harcourt.
²Senior Lecturer, Department of Political and Administrative Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences University of Port Harcourt.

Abstract: This paper examined the impact of terrorism on the national development of Nigeria. This thrust became necessary following the spate of losses in both human and material resources, in the wake of increase in terrorist activities in Nigeria. Using the Marxist political economy approach, the paper contends that terrorism emerged from Nigeria’s national development process. From this perspective, it could be understood as evidence of the failure of national development. Data for the study were gathered through secondary sources, while analysis was done qualitatively. The paper recommended, among other things, that the best way to curb terrorism in Nigeria is through aggressive pursuit of all-inclusive national development.

Key words: Development, insecurity, national development, security, terrorism.

I. INTRODUCTION

Since its contraption by the British colonialists, the Nigerian State has been bedevilled by a multiplicity of problems. From porous borders to the clamour for creation of more states, nation-building to national development, ethnicity to religious intolerance, latent and manifest threats of secession to the hydra-headed issue of corruption, among others, the Nigerian State appears to be quite preoccupied. Prior to 2009, terrorism did not feature much as a problem in Nigeria. But since then, the narrative has changed, to a very large extent. What then, could be the cause of this?
It was Karl Marx that noted in the preface to the book, A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, that it is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their consciousness. In the Nigerian context, years of civilian rule have highlighted the level of alienation between those in government and the governed. This existential reality inevitably radicalised the festering consciousness that Nigerian democracy and everything that has to do with the West is somewhat to be abhorred. This scenario could have been different had it been the Nigerian state epitomised equity and justice, and is seen to be genuinely interested in achieving the greater good for the greater majority.But since the reverse is the case, it can be argued that the failure of the Nigerian state in championing national development is at the root of so many ills in the country, and one of such ills is terrorism.
Having noted that terrorism in Nigerian could have been fostered by the failure of national development in Nigeria, of interest to this paper is the issue of terrorism and its effects on Nigeria’s national development. The importance of an inquiry

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