Nigeria is the biggest economy in sub-Saharan Africa. The country is naturally endowed with large oil, gas, hydro, and solar resources. Though, Nigeria has been facing lots of issues for many years, as it affects the citizens in the country negatively, as well as its economy and value. Some of these issues have hindered the country's growth, and many lives and properties are being lost.
Kidnapping
Kidnapping has been one of the major problems Nigeria has been facing since the early 21st century. The beginning of kidnapping in the country could be traced back to the activities of the Niger Delta militants who were kidnapping the expatriate workers to draw attention to the plight of the indigenous of Niger Delta due to the results of oil exploration in the state.
In 2018, there were about 838 reported kidnapped cases in Nigeria. The rate of kidnapping in Nigeria is increasingly high. Kidnapping has become a huge source of steady profit, which creates a thriving criminal economy that attracts assailants.
In 2020, a total number of 937 people were kidnapped in Kaduna state only, and also, in 2021, about 949 persons were kidnapped, as reported by the government.
The major motives for kidnapping are to subject their victims to a form of involuntary servitude and to obtain ransom for their victims to be released. Kidnap cases in Nigeria are often based on politics, poverty, unemployment, corruption, and ritual purposes.
Boko Haram
Boko haram is an organisation in Nigeria whose full name in Arabic means "people committed to the population of the prophet's teaching and jihad". Nigeria's ongoing battle with insurgent groups and continued government corruption threatens the stability and political integrity of Africa's most popular country.
Boko haram has killed tens of thousands of people, civilians, and armed forces. It has resulted in the deaths of more than 300,000 children, displaced over 2.3 million Nigerians from their respective homes and many cruel defects.
Boko haram was listed as the world's deadliest terror group in the mid-2010s, according to the Global terrorism index. Boko haram has contributed to regional food crises and famine.
Boko haram is responsible for the kidnapping of 276 female students from a secondary school in Borno in 2014. As of 2021 April, over 100 girls are still missing, and six students are believed to have died.
Boko haram's increasing radicalisation has led to the suppression operation by Nigeria's military and the killing of its leader Mohammed Yusuf in July 2009.
Bandits
Bandits operate in many states of northwestern and north-central Nigeria. Bandits are a serious crime that poses a security challenge to democratic governance and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria. They often terrorise communities in the Northern West region.
The activities of bandits include arson, shooting, rape, cattle rustling, killing, kidnapping, and looting. In 2018 and 2019, there was an attack by the bandits. An estimated 4,900 people lost their lives to the bandit attack.
The effects of bandits are expensive and complicate the several crises in the country, including an increase in the incidence of forced migration, cattle rustling, food insecurity, destruction of lives and property, health challenges, displacement, humanitarian crises, and death.
Inadequate Power Supply
Today, Nigeria faces the challenge of providing a reliable power supply, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and keeps energy affordable to consumers.
The power supply is a device that produces electric power to fund electronic equipment.
The availability of light in the country has worsened over the years, and Nigeria has been unable to meet the demands of its policies, regulations, and operations management. The failure to provide an adequate and efficient power supply was well documented.
Nigeria's shortage of reliable power supply has become a constraint on the country's economic growth. The main problem with the efficiency and reliable electricity supply in the country is inadequate infrastructure, poor industry or cooperation in governance, and an inadequate pricing structure to support the economy of power generation.
Lack of transparency is another cause of poor electricity in Nigeria. People involved in electricity distribution are not transparent, and they are even involved in bribery and corruption.
Strike in Nigerian Federal Institutions
The strike is said to be a temporary stoppage of work to pursue a grievance of demand. The disagreements and lack of understanding between the academic community and the government results in a deadlock that usually disrupts the academic calendar. Learning is suspended for a long period, the reading abilities of the student fall and even the knowledge acquired during the learning period is even forgotten by most of the students. Which mostly made some students into certificate seekers rather than knowledge.
Unemployment
Unemployment is spreading like a virus; there has been a high unemployment rate with no jobs available for the youth, and about 24 per cent of Nigeria are unemployed. Students who attend tertiary education institutes frequently leave with no employment and low morale.
Graduates frequently have to stay in their parent's houses for extended periods, leading to dissatisfaction and pessimism. This negativity is one of the main resources of crime among Nigerian youths. They tend to turn to illegal activities since they have been unable to get a job or have something better to do with their time.
There are over two hundred thousand students who graduate from college each year, yet many struggles to find work, and others resort to less than honourable ways to subsistence.
Killing in the East
Some gunmen are terrorising the Eastern part of Nigeria. No fewer than about 175 persons, which include the police and civilians, and soldiers, have lost their lives in the southeast region within the last six months due to the insecurity that has engulfed the troubled region.
Several killings took place in 72 attacks by the hoodlums across the five-state in the region, namely Anambra, IMO, Enugu, Ebony, and Abia. Violence, killings, and arson attacks have escalated in the region. Several accused members of the prescribed indigenous people of Biafra and the Eastern security network of being behind the violence.
Aside from killing off the people in the east, government facilities such as police stations and offices which belong to the independent national electoral commission (INEC) were also set ablaze and attacked.
In Anambra state, 76 security agents and civilians were killed within the period, and 15 buildings and 28 vehicles were set ablaze.
In Enugu state, 23 people were killed, and four INEC offices and two police stations were burnt.
Ebonyi state recorded 32 killings and three arson cases in five attacks, while Abia state witnessed seven attacks.
On May 8, a female officer of the Nigeria Security and civil defence corps, Chinenye Nwokeocha was killed.
Conclusion
The use of violence to combat violence is unlikely to eradicate terrorism since it will result in the death of many innocent lives and the destruction of properties. The most effective approach to terrorism is to incur security and dialogue with terrorists to tackle the issues related to the sources of terrorism. The government should prioritize the benefits of the people. Will Nigeria continue like this?