Terrorism as a Threat for Economic Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Islam condemn terrorism and rejects all its kinds, it legalized trade and investment as a way of earning halal. The activities of Boko Haram sect become a major challenge to the Nigerian government in recent times; it had led to loss of lives and properties in the country especially in Northern Nigeria.  Some of these activities include bombings, suicide, random shooting, burning of police stations, government offices and places of worship, kidnapping of school girls and innocent people, raping, armed robbery, political crises, murder, destruction of communication facilities alongside the attacks carried out by Herdsmen on some communities in the northern part of the country. Many lives and properties have been lost and a large number of citizens rendered homeless, many women are now widows, children become orphans with no hope of the future. Government had made uptight efforts to tackle these challenges posed by terrorism in the region and put an end to it but the rate of insurgency and insecurity is still disquieting. This work is therefore investigated the challenges of terrorism as a major threat on economic development in Nigeria. The scope of this study is limited on impact of terrorism on economic development in Northern Nigeria between 2000-2017. Data used was sourced from interview with related people, newspapers and related journal articles by using historical and analytical methods, the results showed that terrorism impacts negatively on economic development in Northern Nigeria, it has made government to divert resources meant for economic development purposes to security votes, expenditure made by government on security matters had positively impacted on region’s economic development. It is therefore recommended that government must be pre-emptive in dealing with security threats in view of managing security challenges. The government should accelerate the rapidity of economic growth by creating an economy with a relevant economic and physical infrastructure to support business and industrial growth, the government should remain committed and declare war on terrorism and seek assistance/advice from international communities who have in the past faced this kind of challenge and were able to tackle it, grazing grounds and ranches should be built in the region for herdsmen who rear cattle, relevant security agencies should be well train and liaised with international security experts for gaining modern tactics on fighting terrorism, religious leaders, governments, business associations and NGOs should increase their efforts on enlightment, awareness, education and sensitization campaign on the effects of terrorism on social and economic development in the region.