Stemming the Tears – A Pragmatic Approach to Solving Nigeria’s Security Challenges

Nigeria is facing its most significant governance and security challenges since its independence in 1960. Since the return to democratic rule in May 1999, there has been a spike in agitations from various groups and individuals. Insecurity and escalating violent conflict have remained at an all-time high since 2018, with every part of the country entangled in at least one form of insecurity or violent conflict.

The most significant security challenges and violent conflicts are banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, terrorism, secession agitations, kidnapping, cultism and gang wars, communal clashes, and maritime piracy. These security threats and violent conflicts result in records of daily deaths, kidnappings, loss of properties and injuries. As this insecurity continues, with the government showing a limited capacity to deal with the conflicts, this background paper to the Security Session at the 27th Nigeria Economic Summit profiles pragmatic approaches to solving the challenges to stem the tears of Nigerians and foreign residents in the country. Finding practical solutions to the rising insecurity and violent conflicts in Nigeria will help wedge the likelihood of neighbourhood and spillover effects in the region. This document presents reliable data and robust analysis that formed the basis of conversations during the 27th Nigeria Economic Summit.