YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN NIGERIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Nigeria, a country with a very large youth population has one of the highest unemployment figures in the world, despite her enormous economic potentials. Successive political leaderships have tried unsatisfactorily to address Nigeria’s unemployment conundrum. This has led many scholars and public analysts to aver that the unemployment situation in Nigeria is an albatross to national security. Taking cognizance of the above, this paper examines the dynamics of youth unemployment in Nigeria and its implications for national security and development. The paper argues that bad leadership, corruption, policy inconsistency, lack of sustainable youth empowerment strategies, failed educational system accounts for the high preponderance of youth unemployment in contemporary Nigeria. The paper further argues that youth unemployment in Nigeria has significant, albeit, negative implications for National security and development which include: increased wave of armed robbery, kidnapping, terrorism/insurgency, human trafficking, cybercrimes and militancy among others. Through historical analysis of related literatures that is anchored upon frustration aggression theory, this paper, using primary and secondary data arranged in a thematic order, shows how previous youth policies in Nigeria have been ineffectual and recommends an overhaul of Nigeria youth ministry through reforms, youth empowerment strategies and anti-corruption crusade.