National Security and Good Governance in Nigeria: Interrogating the Nexus

Abstract

National security is a by-product of good governance. In societies where national security is breached the leadership or government of such society is usually characterized by corruption, self-centredness and lack of political will to entrench the tenets of good governance such as accountability, transparency and others. Political participation and responsiveness to the needs of the people, efficiency in public administration and development oriented budgeting add more value to governance. In Nigeria, national security has been breached severally, as political leaders have not been able to deliver the dividend of democracy that will ensure job creation, poverty alleviation and the protection of life and property of its citizenry. Hence Nigeria's national security had been challenged by various groups such as the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east, militants in the oil rich Niger Delta or by the increase in herders and farmers clash over grazing land. This entirely have in one way or the other impede on Nigeria's National Security. Using available narratives and analytical approaches the paper argued that the relationship between national security and governance is indivisible, hence bad governance would possibly spell doom on any nation’s national security. The paper concluded that good governance through good leadership is so important to sustained economic development, prosperity and enhanced national security. Nigerian elites have to make good governance the cornerstone of development as the Nigerian project needs rapid change in her national security and governance