THE EFFECT OF INSECURITY ON MOVEMENT OF PASSENGER ON EAST WEST

1.1 Introduction

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria specifically states that “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”. Unfortunately, government on this constitutional responsibility has failed to provide a secured and safe environment for lives, properties and the conduct of business and economic activities. Recently, Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented level of insecurity. This has threatened national security and has prompted huge allocation of the national budget to security (Achumba and Akpor 2013).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

The return to democratic rule in Nigeria on May 29th, 1999 presented Nigerians with fresh hopes and latent optimism. This is because the people were of the hope that democracy could guarantee freedom, liberty, and equity and enhances the security of lives and properties which are the panacea for the much needed sustainable economic growth and development of the nation. About eighteen years after this fresh hope was offered, the realities on the ground suggest that the hope and optimism has remained a mirage. According to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, over ten million Nigerians were unemployed by March 2009. As Otto and Ukpere, (2012) observed, the figure on unemployment keep increasing geometrically yearly with less realistic effort by the managers of the state to abate the rampaging unemployment problem. Nwanegbo and Odigbo, (2013) agreed with the view above when they further opined that majority of the population seem to lack access to pipe borne water, health care facilities, electricity and affordable quality education.

This scenario painted above aided the Nigeria security situation to deteriorate drastically. Since the return to democratic rule in May 1999, Nigeria has witnessed a number of security challenges associated with militancy, kidnapping, armed robbery, political assassination, arms proliferation, piracy and ethno-religious conflicts. The security challenges have assumed a formidable dimension forcing the country’s political and economic managers and, indeed the entire nation, to rue the loss of their loved ones, investments and absence of safety in most part of the country (Onifade, Imhonopi and Urim, 2013). The various governments since May 1999, has tried different methods aimed at ameliorating the devastating effect of insecurity without any useful result. When it seems that the government is achieving good result in one, another will rare it ugly head. The reason for government failure to address this issue of insecurity satisfactorily may not be unconnected with government failure in meeting the developmental needs of the people which has forced them into forming alliance in different forms that has succeeded in breading what Onifade, Imhonopi and Urim,(2013) refers to increasing ethnic hate, religious bigotry, political rivalry and a growing population of disgruntle citizens in the country who feel they have been short-changed and given very limited or no access to the common patrimony. This is consistent with the findings of Egwu, (2001) who observed that the primordial tendencies of various ethnic groups towards violence, the perennial eruption of various ethnic militias and the preponderant religious fundamentalism in place, given expression to by some sections of the dominant religious establishment in Nigeria, have inevitably aggravated the scale and propensity of insecurity and widened its scope in various ramifications.

The effect of insecurity is very obvious as it presents itself in the destruction of few available infrastructures needed for the industrial growth and development of the nation. No country of the world can develop without the needed prerequisite for growth and development. With the huge outlay of government resources spent on curbing the menace of insecurity and the attendant destruction of the few existing infrastructure, one can assume that the challenges that insecurity posed to development is enormous.

Therefore, this study examines the implication of insecurity on economic development in Nigeria. It seeks to x-ray the major security challenges hindering economic development in the country.

This study is divided into five (5) sections. Following the introduction is the literature review which contains conceptual explanation of insecurity and economic development, the various areas of Nigeria security challenges, theoretical link between security and economic development and implication of insecurity to economic development. Section three, four and five contains the methodology, results and conclusion and recommendations respectively.

Therefore, in Port Harcourt-Bayelsa Route where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Effect of Insecurity on Movement of Passenger on East West.

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1.3 Statement of the Problem

Studies have shown that insecurity on on Movement of Passenger on East West and war have negative effects on the passengers, and these include heightened aggression and violence, revenge seeking, anxiety, depression, withdrawal, sleep disorder, fear and panic, kidnapping, poor school performance and involvement in criminal violence (Sagi-Swartz, Seginer & Adeen, 2008; Quota, Runmaki & El-Sarraj, 2008).

More so, Passenger are found to be victimized by or witness to different kinds of political violence and war especially in the community where the family lives (Richters & Martinez, 1993b). In most African countries like Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, Algeria, Angola, Ethiopia, Senegal, Sudan, Uganda etc. Passenger are seen to have been recruited into militant camps and actually carry gun to kill their fellow citizens. About a third of world’s Passenger soldiers are found in Africa. It is important to understand that child soldering which is rampant in Africa is a result of war, insurgency, insecurity, and others. Parents have the hard task of monitoring the behaviour and activities of Passenger to avoid the risk of anti-social behaviour during moments of insecurity and war (Mazefsky& Farrel, 2005; Okolie, 2005).

The risks in which Passenger, women and the aged are exposed to and the effects can be long lasting in the society. It is against this background that the study seeks to ascertain the effect of insecurity on Movement of Passenger on East West of Nigeria and to proffer possible solutions to curbing insecurity.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Effect of Insecurity on Movement of Passenger on East West using Port Harcourt-Bayelsa Route as a Case Study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To find out the specific causes and fundamental effects of Insecurity in Nigeria.
2. To ascertain the extent to which Nigerian Police force is equipped and empowered to provide security in Movement of Passenger on East West
3. To identify the challenges that has inhibited the Nigerian police in performing its statutory functions.
4. To explore the relevance of the Nigerian police force in combating insecurity on Movement of Passenger on East West in Nigeria.
5. To seek out solutions to insecurity on Movement of Passenger on East West and corrections that can be made to better the Nigerian police force.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Does the relevance of the Nigerian police force increases insecurity combat on Movement of Passenger on East West?
• Does insecurity on Movement negatively affect Passengers on East West?
• What are the causes and fundamental effects of Insecurity in Nigeria?
• To what extent to does the Nigerian Police force is equipped and empowered to provide security in Movement of Passenger on East West?
• What are the challenges that have inhibited the Nigerian police in performing its statutory functions?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

H0: There is no significant effect of Insecurity on Movement of Passenger on East West

H1: There is a significant effect of Insecurity on Movement of Passenger on East West

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1.7 Significance of Study

The Effect of Insecurity on Movement of Passenger on East West using Port Harcourt-Bayelsa Route as a Case Study is significant in the following ways:

1. The study would assist the government to be proactive in tackling insecurity and insurgency in Port Harcourt-Bayelsa Route in Nigeria.
2. The study would be of immense benefit to the various stakeholders in security matters for policy making.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the Effect of Insecurity on Movement of Passenger on East West using Port Harcourt-Bayelsa Route as a Case Study.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Insecurity: is a feeling of uncertainty, a lack of confidence or anxiety about oneself

Emotion: is a complex psychological state involves three distinct components; a subjective experience, a physiological response and a behavioural or expressive response.

Insurgency: a usually violent attempt to take control of a government or a rebellion or uprising.

Terrorism: is unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government or its citizens to further certain political or social objectives.