CORRUPTION AND INSECURITY IN NIGERIA FOURTH REPUBLIC ANALYSES (1999- 2019)

Abstract

Corruption and insecurity are two major challenges facing African nations. The duo are responsible for all woes and suffering in Africa continent and Nigeria in general. They are like Siamese twin that works together in the same direction. Corruption has eaten the nucleus of over 99.9 percent of Nigerians heart as seen in all sectors, perpetrated by both the rich and the poor in both public and private enterprise as various degrees. This paper gave a vivid conceptual clarification of corruption and insecurity in Nigeria, causes, implications and consequences. The paper made use of secondary data and adopted Prebendalism theory and Relative Deprivation theory as theoretical framework. The paper highlights measures taken by federal Government of Nigeria to combat corruption and insecurity, and rationale behind their failures discussed. The relationship between corruption and insecurity was established. The study discovered that corruption has been accepted as a norm in the society, those saddled with the responsibility to fight corruption are corrupt themselves and that the nation is sailing to a point without core values. The study unravel that corruption has been institutionalized in all sectors, religious organizations inclusive. That government has adopted cosmetic approach in fighting corruption and insecurity. A rise in corruption leads to high rate of insecurity, which is manifestation of bad governance. Consequently, the paper concludes with recommendations on how corruption and insecurity can be combated which includes, good governance, transparency and accountability, functional anti graft agency and an independent judiciary, overhauling and general restructuring of the security agencies, the use of modern ammunitions, digital intelligence gathering and international cooperation and assistance from other developed nations among others.