Strategic Role of Budgeting in the Quest for Degrading of Terror: Creation of More Jobs versus Acquisition of More Weapons

1Introduction

Insecurity in Nigeria at a time was at the height of the operations of militias such as the Niger Delta militants whose activities were often kidnapping for ransom and pipeline vandalism. They were others like cultists, ritualists and armed robbers whose activities manifest in robberies, human and drug trafficking etc. Currently, the challenge has gone past this level and heightened uncontrollably to include terrorism.

Terrorism which is a breed of insecurity has eaten deep into Nigeria and takes ugly shapes as days go by. Nigeria as a state has witnessed unprecedented series of activities in the forms of massive killings, abductions, armed robberies, bombings, and carnages of all forms and magnitude in the past decade and a half. The most troubling so far is the activities of a group of some militants called Boko Haram interpreted to mean ‘western education is evil’. There is also the ISWAP which is believed to be a breakaway group from Boko Haram. With the coming of Boko Haram in 2002, the insecurity situation in Nigeria seems to have assumed higher and more complex dimensions (Omede & Omede, 2015).

The terrorism situation in Nigeria cuts across states, cities, towns and villages that there is hardly anywhere to run to for cover. The rate at which this evil is growing in Nigeria and the merciless ways that lives of innocent ones are being wasted are worrisome. People are burdened with psychological and emotional trauma resulting from gory sights of lifeless and mutilated bodies of loved family members, close relations and colleagues littered on the streets, villages, farms and even at places of worship. People live in apprehension. Lives and property are not safe for both urban and rural dwellers.

In reality, insecurity is not a problem that is peculiar only to Nigeria. It has geographical spread across the continents. The United States, United Kingdom and many countries face the challenges of insecurity within their borders (Adejumo, 2011). The difference between these nations and Nigeria according to Adejumo (2011) is how they manage or handle the threats.

According to Nwanegbo and Odigbo (2013), security is the pillar upon which every meaningful development could be achieved and sustained. It can be defined as the relative freedom from harmful threats that may stem from violence or war. Various options may exist as solutions or at least ways of ameliorating the menace of terrorism facing the country Nigeria. Whichever way, how far a strategy goes in solving the problem needs to be considered in making a choice. The study will be a critique and an inquiry into the inclination to solving Nigeria’s security challenges which is depicted in the allocation of funds in the yearly budgets either for creation of more jobs for the youths or investing in beefing up the armoury for the military and other security agencies.

1.1Objective of the study

The combat against terrorism has lasted long in Nigeria and the expectation of the citizens is to have a way out of this gory situation. This study has a purpose which is to examine prevalent alternative solutions to the menace of terrorism and in broad sense insecurity ravaging the nations of the world and most especially Nigeria. The strategies of either further equipping the military or creation of more jobs for unemployed youths are to be analytically reviewed with a view to adopting the better and effective method that will yield desired results.

2Conceptual review

2.1Meaning of terrorism

Insecurity is a fear of the unknown, a feeling of trepidation and being unsafe. Also, it is a state of being unable to protect lives and property. In other words, people are vulnerable to damage, injury or loss from both internal and external causes. Thus, one can deduce from the definition that a nation’s sovereignty cannot safeguard the citizen and her resources both within and outside the country (Udeh, Okoroafor & Ihezie, 2013).

Terrorism is extreme brand of insecurity in this modern time. For Hornby (2000), terrorism is the use of violent action in order to achieve political aims or force a government to act. The word terrorism comes from the reign of terror instigated by Maximilien Robespierre in 1793 following the French revolution (About.com, 2014). This implies that terrorism is not a child of modern times; the perpetrators are terrorists while terrorism is an act. The United States Department of Defense cited by Terrorism Research defines terrorism as “the calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious or ideological (Omede & Omede, 2015). They highlighted the elements of terrorism to include:

• use of unlawful violence believing that violence will usher in a better system
• use of unlawful and assorted dangerous weapons
• motivated by goals that might be political, religious or ideological
• secretive in membership recruitment and locations of residence
• fewer in number comparable to the larger society they attack
• have strong will and could die for the course they uphold
• most times, operate as syndicates
• deriving financial and military supports from national and international loyalists
• they are militant, they use coercion, intimidation and instill fears in people

Their tactics involve:

• suicide bombing, car bombing, use of rocket propelled grenades, assassinations, abductions, disguising and hijacking. They can also launch attacks on unsuspecting victims.

2.2History of insurgency in Nigeria

The history of insecurity and insurgency in Nigeria is traceable to the emergence of a group of militants called Boko Haram in 2002. Boko Haram is translated to mean “western education is forbidden”. Boko Haram is terrorist group founded by Mohammed Yusuf, a theologian around 2002 with its headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno State. The implication of this is that Western education and culture ought to be neglected, ignored, and resisted as they (Boko Haram) are of the view that it is responsible for the ills in the society today. Muhammed Yusuf’s teaching was based on this ideology and expected all his followers to vehemently resist Western education as true followers and adherents (Shuaibu et al., 2015).

The progressive destructive activities of Boko Haram made the US Department of States to designate them as terrorist organization in November, 2013 (Omede & Omede, 2015). Terrorism is of national and international concern because it waves across countries and continents.

Moreover, on 25th December 2009, a Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdumuttallab, attempted to blow up an American airliner en route from Amsterdam to Detroit (Olawale, 2012). This accounts to one of early manifestations of terrorism tendencies in that made the United States include Nigeria in list of potential terrorist nations.

2.3Causes of terrorism

A lot of reasons may lead to terrorism. These include unemployment, bad governance, lack of quality education or training, lack or inadequate basic infrastructures, corrupt practices of government officials, perceived victimization, poverty in the midst of affluence, show of ethnic superiority, beliefs, domination and exploitation, moral bankruptcy, negative religious orientations, materialism and the display of it with impunity among others. These factors according to Omede (2012) may not actually be the causes of unrest in Nigeria. He sees these factors as symptoms, shadows and not the substance. The genesis of insecurity in any nation has often been anchored to government lapse. It can be as a result of unemployment, poverty, bad governance and so on (Osisanwo, 2025)

A key factor that facilitates terrorism in countries including Nigeria is unemployment. Unemployment contributes to insecurity as the saying goes, “an idle hand is the devils workshop” (Muyideen, 2015). According to Udeh et al (2013), unemployment in Nigeria today is soaring very high because critical infrastructure like roads, constant power and water supply needed to create jobs are not put in place by the government despite promises made to fix them. With the high rate of youth unemployment, all manner of crimes such as kidnapping, the activities of Boko Haram and other vices are likely to arise. Armed robbery, Kidnapping, banditry and other vices are not unrelated to the high rate of unemployment in the country and across the states. No country can afford to have millions of unemployed youths. The high rate of unemployment in Nigeria has created an army for terrorism, kidnapping, political thuggery and ethnic conflicts in the nation (Stober, 2015). Youth unemployment increases poverty, lack of opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills (Varin, 2018). The unemployed youths due to their frustration and socio-economic difficulties and afflictions provides fertile ground for their recruitment into terrorism especially by the Boko Haram in Nigeria (Idrees et al., 2015). This army of the unemployed can become a nuisance to the society. It is a time bomb that must be defused. It is sad and disheartening to see sound graduates being unemployed for about eight years after graduation. As unemployment rate increases, poverty level also rises. Government statistics showed that in Nigeria, regions besieged by insurgents has about 75 percent of the people living in poverty. Also, in a report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria’s poverty profile 2010 shows that at least 112.6 million of Nigerians or 69 percent of the country’s population are living below the poverty level. In the report by the Statistician-General of Nigeria, the highest poverty areas are within the North West and North East geopolitical zones (Oshodi, 2012). Unemployment has been rising alongside the increasing incidence of poverty. In 2007, eight million Nigerians were unemployed. The figure rose to 10 million in 2008 and hit 18 million in 2011. In August 2020, unemployment rate according to NBS stood at 27.1 per cent even though many unemployed Nigerians are yet to register with the government.

This great number of unemployed youths has become mighty tools in the hands of wicked persons who used them for their selfish interest either as political thugs or use them to cause crisis in the nation (Afolabi, 2013). Unemployment with its nature afflicts its victims psychologically. This therefore makes it easy for the unemployed youths to be recruited by terrorists or join in other related vices. Appealing conditions attached may be considered by unemployed youths as opportunity or way out of their distress and frustration (Adelaja et al., 2018).

External influence can cause terrorism. The terrorist attack on the United States of America in September, 2001 was by Late Osama Bin Laden led Al Qaeda Network. The recent terrorist attacks in different parts of Nigeria especially North East have shown that there is infiltration from outside Nigeria. According to Suswan (2012), membership of the Boko Haram sect transcend beyond Nigeria to include Niger Republic, Chad, Mali and some North African countries. Similarly, according to Ihejirika (2011), Boko Haram was receiving tactical support from foreign elements.

“It is definite that the youths who call themselves Boko Haram or terrorists receive training and possibly funding from foreign elements. This is evident in the type of weapons that we have captured from them and from the expertise that they have displayed in the preparation of improved explosive devices. These are pointers to the fact that there is foreign involvement in the terrorism going on in Nigeria.”

Imposition of unpopular polices can cause insecurity and terrorism. When a government comes with policies and decisions that do not go down well with the people, there is possibility that agitations and uprisings that will follow may heighten to the level of terrorism.

Religious beliefs and fanaticism can cause terrorism. As have been observed in many nations, terrorism has often taken its root from religious beliefs. The case of Boko Haram in Nigeria is a good example.

Maladministration, corruption and injustice by public office holders may create ill feelings in the minds of people who may look for a way to get back at the government. The situation where the wealth of a nation are being amassed by only few individuals in the political class may move some others into engaging in extreme social vices which will result in insecurity and terrorism.

2.4Effect of terrorism and insecurity on the economy of Nigeria

The activities of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups following the frequent bombings in the country especially in some parts of the northern region have culminated to the loss of lives and property of both civilians and military personnel as well as stagnation of economic activities. According to Olisemeka (2011), the several violent attacks by the Boko Haram have affected economic activities in Maiduguri and other cities in the North East as many residents have fled their homes as internally displaced persons while others who could not relocate do not freely go about their normal businesses.

In some other parts of the country, kidnapping and armed robbery activities took their toll on the lives and property of both Nigerian citizens and foreigners. Nigeria has lost both lives and property worth billions of naira to the blasts by Boko Haram. This affects the population and demand for goods and services that could boost the economy of the nation. Money that should have been used to provide new infrastructure would be channeled back to rebuild those properties destroyed. (Udeh et al, 2013).

Similarly, Junger (as cited in Udeh et al, 2013) opined that insecurity in the Niger Delta region caused production losses up to 25% in 2005 and 2006 and directly affecting oil revenue. Should the situation in the Delta continued to deteriorate, multinational oil companies risk losing further billions of dollars in potential earnings and importing countries will face increased oil price volatility.

The government in power is distracted from pursuing its goal of transforming the country. This is because rather than focus on the agenda, government will be compelled to channel all her energy and resources towards security at the expense of other social services that should be delivered to the people. For example in the 2012 budget security took a large chunk of N921.91 billion when compared with other sectors like education, health, agriculture etc, yet the country is plunged into instability as peace in the polity seems to be a mirage. The economy suffers from stagnation. There is multiplier effect of insecurity on the economy of the country. These include drop in foreign direct investment (FDI), worsening of unemployment, rise in poverty, etc.

2.5Solutions to Nigeria’s terrorism challenges through job creation and empowerment

According to Vanguard News of 22nd June 2017, Princess Gloria Akobundu, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Nigeria identified job creation as a major solution to insecurity and youth restiveness across the country. She advocated the creation of vocation centres. In her words, “the cost of insecurity and youth restiveness far outweighs whatever government will use as allowances for the trainees”. According to Yusuf and Mohd (2022), good governance entails ensuring justice, empowerment, employment and efficient service delivery.

One of the recent happenings experienced in Nigeria is the EndSARS protest in which thousands of Nigerian youths took to the streets of the country to demonstrate against brutality of the Nigerian police and its special unit known as the special anti-robbery squad. The protest which took several days in October, 2020 was truncated by activities of intruders that went violent resulting the destruction of lives and property. It is however noteworthy that unemployment which is at a high rate in Nigeria among others issues contributed to the upheaval. In other words, tackling unemployment will greatly reduce the chance of occurrence of such nationwide unrest and reduce security challenges in the country.

From the Blueprint of 20th November 2019, the Chairman, United Bank for Africa and founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) while speaking on Dakar International Conference Forum on Peace and Security in Africa, Tony Elumelu said the lack of employment opportunities serves as a recruiting tool for those benefitting from insecurity and terrorism which has ravaged northern part of Nigeria and some other parts of Africa. According to him, to put an end to terrorism and stop the continuous recruitment of the youths by terrorists and violence sponsors, there is the need for government to create jobs and the private sector to invest in the youths. He further posited that holding a number of seminars to discuss insecurity without creation of jobs and curbing poverty, extremists would continue to brainwash the youths. Deliberating on weapons to defend against insurgency is not enough and not the lasting solution. It can be understood from the foregoing that to tackle terrorism, we must tackle poverty which is the root cause.

Youths are given the orientation during their trainings that seeking employment with the public or private sectors after completion of trainings is the ultimate way to go (Etodike et al., 2018). Vocational and technical education training as a solution to youth unemployment is not being given a priority in this present school curriculum in Nigeria. In his persuasion for vocational and technical education training skills as solution for youth unemployment (Edokpolor & Owenvbiugie, 2017) stated its significance, that it has the enablement for contending with youth unemployment and poverty through skills acquisition for development in a given society. That the major role of vocational and technical education training skills is that it equips the youths with the desired skills for easy employment.

In contending with youth unemployment, Nigerian agricultural sector must be restructured to comfortably attract and employ the vast population of the unemployed youths (Oluwatayo & Ojo, 2018). The growing youth unemployment rate and terrorism in Nigeria is an indication or expression that the huge number of youths do not have the skills to initiate and operate a business so as to become self-employed (Olajide, 2015).

While recognizing the need for nations to have military forces (McNamara, in Udeh, Okoroafor, & Ihezie, 2013) insisted that development is essential for security. However, he regrets that ignorance on the part of leaders makes this fact problematic. In his words;

“The rub is that we do not always grasp the meaning of security in this context. In a modernizing society, security means development, security is not military hard ware, though it may involve it; security is not traditional military activity though it may encompass it. Security is development, and without development there can be no security. A developing nation that does not in fact develop, simply cannot remain secure for the intractable reason that its own citizenry cannot shed its human nature. This is what we do not always understand, and what governments of modernizing nations do not always understand.”

The understanding here is that governments must look beyond mere equipping and applying or misapplying defence and security forces in the search for national security. Rather, they should give more attention to those factors that give rise to the urge to use or misuse defence and security forces such as poverty, unemployment, hunger and starvation, low technological development, lack of social amenities, low productivity, lack of or poor accountability, obnoxious laws and policies and abuse of human and people’s rights.

Obasanjo (in Udeh et al, 2013) conceives national security as the aggregate of the security interest of all individuals, communities, ethnic groups and the entire political entity. Thus, he argues that the preservation of the safety of Nigerians at home and abroad and elimination of corruption, pursuit of development, progress and the improvement of the welfare and quality of life of every citizen of Nigeria constitute our national security concern.

In his own analysis, Ogunbanwo (in Udeh et al, 2013) writing on the developing world asserts that:

“Security is more than military security from external attacks. For many of the 4 billion inhabitants in the developing countries, security is conceived as the basic level of the struggle for survival. Therefore in order to provide an integrated African security assessment, the non-military dimensions of security should be added. Henceforth, African security as a concept should be applied in its broadest sense to include economic security, social security, environmental security, food security, the quality of life security and technological security.”

The security agencies including the Police, DSS, Army, Navy and Air force should be trained and retrained in a modern way of combating terrorism. They should be supported in order to boost their morale in securing lives and property. This should be followed by the provision of modern equipment and facilities by the government to enhance intelligence gathering and effective coordination of the activities of security agencies in the country. International intelligence sharing and inter agency cooperation through diplomatic channels is needed.

There should be re-orientation and inculcation of proper moral values in the lives of the youths. Hornby (2010) defines values as beliefs about what is right and wrong and what is important in life. Values are those important and lasting beliefs or ideas shared by the members of a culture about what is good or bad and desirable or undesirable.

2.6Concept of budgeting

A budget is a plan, quantified in monetary terms, prepared and approved prior to a defined period of time usually showing income to be generated and expenditure to be incurred during that period and the capital to be employed to attain a give objective. It is a detailed commitment to a plan of action (Adeniji, 2008). A budget is a plan or estimate of expected income and expenditure for defined period usually a fiscal year. Budgeting means a systematic and formalised approach in preparing a well-defined income and expenditure framework. It is the process or act of generating a budget. Budgeting is done by public and private organisations. The budget of any institution discloses their priorities and commitments.

2.6.1Strategic budgeting as an instrument of planning

Application of finance or funds through budgeting involves the allocation of a country’s economic resources towards meeting its objectives for a giving period. It begins with the preparation of the appropriation bill. The budgeting process is initiated by the executive. It is usually done before the beginning of every financial year and passed by the National Assembly at the federal level. The appropriation bill shows details of proposed revenue to be generated and the expected expenditures for different heads- ministries, departments and agencies of the government over a given time frame. It is in this process that the strategic appropriation of funds in line with objectives are initiated. It is the budget that depicts the strategy in application of funds; that is, if a country wants to invest in defence hardware or invest significantly in economic activities that will create job opportunities and employment for the working population. Allocating or committing much resources in the area of job creations, youth empowerment and general social investments in the budget and ensuring successful budget implementation will engage the active population and reduce or minimize the potential manpower that can be recruited into terrorist activities.

2.7Theoretical framework

According to Wayas et al. (2019), the Frustration-Aggression theory that was propounded by Dollard et al in 1939 was an attempt to explain the occurrence of violence and crimes in a society. In their view, human beings have needs, ambitions or expectations in life that are arranged in their order of priority. That once the attainment of these needs, particularly the basic needs are delayed, prevented, or denied frustration sets in and the consequences could be aggressive. The implication of this theory is that aggression is a consequence of frustration due to unobtainable needs or expectations in life. This Frustration-Aggression theory is opted for this research and could be used to link up with the ever increasing rate of youth unemployment and Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria. The inability of Nigerian government providing employment opportunities for its unemployed youths and graduate has provided a fertile atmosphere or environment for frustration for the unemployed youths. It is strongly believed that there is a feeling of joy and expectation when a student is about finishing from university or other higher institutions of learning. This expectation gradually declines away and is replaced with frustration after some years of hopelessness as necessitated by unfruitful efforts made to secure employment opportunity. When the frustration prolongs as the employment delays or denied, there could be the earnest probability that the unemployed youths may resort to unethical engagements, activities or means to actualize their desired goals or needs in the society. The implication of the above is that, Boko Haram terrorism and its violence activities in Nigeria is a glaring exhibition of Frustration-Aggression theory from the great number of unemployed youths in Nigeria, especially the North East due to the denial of employment opportunities for them to earn a living. And it is most applicable and useful in this context, coupled with a Nigerian adage that says a hungry man is an angry man (Breuer & Elson, 2017; Dialoke & Edeja, 2017)

3Methodology

The researcher adopted an analytical review method in the study. This involves analysis of empirical works existing on the subject matter of discourse. The work in other words is a desk research that made use of secondary data or information. Data from secondary sources such as journal articles, textbooks and other online materials were gathered and analytically reviewed, from which conclusions were drawn and recommendations made.

3.1Analytical review

Muyideen (2015) was of the view that insecurity may be partly linked up with unemployment. The paper explored the contribution of art to economic viability in engaging the menace of insecurity and unemployment issues that lead to delinquency, armed banditry and terrorism such as the “Boko haram.” In the search for national security and gainful employment, it concludes by seeing art as a major option in the realization of employed and secured citizenship. Art is an employer of labour. Its utilization by a nation can lead to effective engagement of citizens in worthwhile activities for economic benefits.

Wayas et al. (2019) said the increasing social vices in Nigeria and terrorism are indicators of a national doom. These criminal activities negatively affect the peace, security, and development of the nation. This study examined the relationship between youth unemployment and Boko Haram terrorism in Nigeria. The study relied on secondary data and revealed that high rate of youth unemployment in northeast Nigeria has provided foot soldiers for the Boko Haram elites. More so, available data show youth unemployment rate in Nigeria is so high, and these criminal engagements are attributed to it. As a way forward, they recommended amongst others that, the Nigerian government should identify the causes of youth unemployment and intensify efforts at youth unemployment reduction.

Udeh, Okoroafor and Ihezie (2013) posited that Nigeria has witnessed an unprecedented security challenges. These social menace, when put together impinge on the security of lives and property of Nigerian citizens. These social menace trigger off a worrisome sense of insecurity that challenge Nigeria’s efforts towards national economic development. It also scares the attraction of foreign investments and their contributions to economic development in Nigeria. The paper recommended effective leadership and good governance as a panacea to solving problems of insecurity, unemployment, poverty, hunger and disease.

Omede and Omede (2015) in their study examined terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria and proffered moral, values and religious education as panaceas.

4Summary and conclusions

This paper discussed the central role that security plays in the development of nations. It further explains the concepts of terrorism and insecurity with instances of terrorist acts in Nigeria. The possible causes of insecurity in Nigeria such as bad governance, corruption, graduate unemployment among others.

It was gathered that the problem of terrorism and other security challenges in Nigeria can be tackled using different options ranging from military options, art as put forward by Muyideen (2015), job creation among others. The objective of study is to compare two possible solutions which are creation of more jobs for the youths and acquisition more weapons for the military to enhance the combat against terrorism. Different relevant literature have been reviewed and the researcher in line with many studies in this area came up with the conclusion that allocating more funds to industrialization and the creation of more jobs in order to eradicate unemployment is the panacea to terrorism and insecurity in many nations including Nigeria. This goes beyond what equipping the military with more weapons can impact.

5Recommendations

From the review, the study recommends that the best and most effective way to end insecurity and terrorism in Nigeria is to create massive employment opportunities that will engage the youths in meaningful activities. This can be strategically achieved by making plans for the re-direction of government expenditure. There should be allocation of greater amount of money to job creation during the budgeting process. This will increase the rate of economic growth and development of Nigeria.

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