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Public Policy Responses to Insecurity in Nigeria: Assessing the Effectiveness of Legal and Institutional Frameworks for National Security.
Subject area: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities · Area of research: Public Policy
DOI: 10.64388/IREV10I3-1722744
Abstract
Nigeria has faced an escalating spectrum of internal security threats, ranging from Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East to armed banditry in the North-West and farmer-herder conflicts in the North-Central region. In response, the Nigerian state has enacted a series of legal instruments, notably the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Police Force Act 2020, and established institutional mechanisms including the National Counter Terrorism Centre and inter-agency coordination platforms. Despite these policy responses, empirical data indicate a paradox of proliferating frameworks alongside deepening insecurity. Drawing on securitization theory and institutional theory, this paper examines the conceptual underpinnings, legal architectures, and institutional arrangements that define Nigeria’s public policy approach to national security. Through an empirical analysis of Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) statistics, displacement figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and documented security incidents from 2023 to 2025, the study assesses the effectiveness of existing frameworks. Findings reveal significant gaps between policy formulation and implementation, characterized by institutional fragmentation, overlapping mandates, capacity deficits, and a persistent disconnect between coercive security measures and human security needs. The paper argues that without structural reforms that prioritize institutional coordination, political will, and community-centered security governance, Nigeria’s legal and institutional responses will remain insufficient to stem the tide of violence. The study concludes with policy recommendations emphasizing integrated security governance, legal accountability, and the operationalization of human security principles.
Keywords
national security, public policy, insecurity, legal framework, institutional effectiveness, Nigeria
References
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[4] Federal Government of Nigeria. (2019). National Security Strategy 2019. Abuja: Office of the National Security Adviser.
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How to cite this paper
@article{1722744,
author = {Muhammed Auwal Suleiman, PhD},
title = {Public Policy Responses to Insecurity in Nigeria: Assessing the Effectiveness of Legal and Institutional Frameworks for National Security.},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {3},
pages = {564-574},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1722744.pdf},
abstract = {Nigeria has faced an escalating spectrum of internal security threats, ranging from Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East to armed banditry in the North-West and farmer-herder conflicts in the North-Central region. In response, the Nigerian state has enacted a series of legal instruments, notably the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Police Force Act 2020, and established institutional mechanisms including the National Counter Terrorism Centre and inter-agency coordination platforms. Despite these policy responses, empirical data indicate a paradox of proliferating frameworks alongside deepening insecurity. Drawing on securitization theory and institutional theory, this paper examines the conceptual underpinnings, legal architectures, and institutional arrangements that define Nigeria’s public policy approach to national security. Through an empirical analysis of Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) statistics, displacement figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and documented security incidents from 2023 to 2025, the study assesses the effectiveness of existing frameworks. Findings reveal significant gaps between policy formulation and implementation, characterized by institutional fragmentation, overlapping mandates, capacity deficits, and a persistent disconnect between coercive security measures and human security needs. The paper argues that without structural reforms that prioritize institutional coordination, political will, and community-centered security governance, Nigeria’s legal and institutional responses will remain insufficient to stem the tide of violence. The study concludes with policy recommendations emphasizing integrated security governance, legal accountability, and the operationalization of human security principles.},
keywords = {national security, public policy, insecurity, legal framework, institutional effectiveness, Nigeria},
month = {September},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I3-1722744}
}