CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Right from time, national security has been seen as the strength of nation’s military and security forces (Igbogo, 2015). Consequently, it is commonly presumed that the greatest threat to national security is internal uprising which usually stands as the strongest hindrance to national peace and security (Nwanegbo & Odigbo, 2013). National security is the primary responsibility of the security agencies. These security agencies are saddled with the responsibility of combating several categories of crimes and criminalities including kidnapping, bribery and corruption, financial crimes, terrorism, militancy, armed robbery, thuggery etc (Kumolu, 2013).
National security in Africa has been a major concern due to the volatility nature of some countries. National security has been threatened in various instances ranging from the activities of Al-Shabab in Kenya, Somalia and Yemen (although based in Somalia, it also conducts attacks in neighboring countries notably Kenya) conflicts in Sudan, xenophobia in South Africa and many more. By and large, efforts are been made by the government of African countries to maintain national security.
The Nigerian society is getting more and more insecure, more people are getting into crimes and they are getting more ruthless, desperate and sophisticated since the atmosphere permits them to operate without much tackle. In Nigeria of today especially since the advent of the present democratic dispensation, new forms of violent crimes have become common; these include banditry, terrorism, kidnapping (actually adult or privileged people’s napping) for ransom, pipeline vandalization, Boko Haram bombings, rape, political violence, thugery, vote-buying and more (Kumolu, 2013). Public and private institutions are attacked and vandalized by gangs, even the military and police facilities are constantly under attack and scores of people killed.
Apart from these violent crimes, other form of economic crimes has also been on the increase in recent times. Reported cases of bribery, corruption, looting of funds, embezzlement by political class, misappropriation, money laundering and other financial crimes has been at the center stage of political discourse in Nigeria for now. Nwanegbo & Odigbo (2013) asserted that you can hardly get anything official done in any public office in a timely manner except some forms of bribes are offered to office workers in an attempt to get things done faster.
One major reason for the continual increase of insecurity within the Nigerian state is economic crimes. Economic crimes are crimes that generate economic profits either for the individual or group of individuals involved; thereby damaging existing laws in governing the economic activities of government (Arowosaiye, 2015). They are human activities involving breaking the economic laws of a state. Hence, they are illegal activities which are punishable by law. Such offences include bribery, fraud, embezzlement of public funds, breach of public trust, money laundering, illegal arms deals, misappropriation of public funds, illegal oil bunkering, tax evasion, kidnapping etc (Mehta, 2004). The beginning of the Fourth Republic witnessed new forms of violent and economic crimes which have resurfaced, such as; kidnapping for ransom which is common in the oil-rich region and south east of Nigeria, pipeline vandalism, terrorism especially in the north east, political violence, maladministration, misappropriation of public funds, and siphoning of resources to private pockets or bank accounts (Otto & Ukpere, 2012). Economic crimes have made living in the Nigerian state to gradually degenerate to the state of brutality. Disorderliness slowly draws in as laws are taken into the hands of the people with or without the consent of the authority in charge. Everyone engages in activities as long as these actions are right in their sight (Okechukwu, & Anyadike, 2013). Even the rule of law is gradually collapsing. The Boko Haram insurgency is such that has claimed over 30,000 lives with over 2 million people displaced in the region (Oyewole, 2016). Economic crimes affect the political security of the state, the human security, environmental security, health security, military security, food security of the people. In all, it affects the national security of a nation. As a result of this, key institutions such as Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were established to fight economic crimes (Oseni & Sanni, 2016).
Security as an essential concept is commonly associated with the alleviation of threats to cherished values, especially the survival of individuals, groups or objects in the near future. Thus, security as the name implies, involves the ability to pursue cherished political and social ambitions (Williams, 2008). According to Palme (2012), there is a correlation between security and survival (employment, good infrastructure etc.). Whereas survival is an essential condition, security is viewed as safety, confidence, free from danger, fear, doubt, among others. Therefore, security is ‘survival-plus' and the word 'plus' could be understood from the standpoint of being able to enjoy some freedom from life- determining threats and some life choices (Booth, 2017). However, the concept - security, is meaningless without a critical discourse of something pertinent to secure. Indeed, security could best be understood when situated within the context, of a referent object of a nation. In the long advent of human history, the central focus of National security has been citizens and other residents (Rothschild, 2015). Contrarily, some scholars especially those in international politics have argued that when thinking about National security, states should be the most important referents. On the other hand, some analysts have challenged this position by arguing that any intellectual discourse on security should accord priority to human beings since without reference to individual humans, security makes no sense (McSweeney, 2009). Notwithstanding these controversial dabates, the focus of this investigation is on national security. However, national security deals with the internal security of which Nigeria is currently mired in a state of obfuscation. Although, security from external aggression is always included.
Successive governments in Nigeria has spent hugely on security and defence sector. This huge cut is seen in the procurement of arms and ammunition for the military and the welfare of the military (Okechukwu & Anyadike, 2013). Therefore, the federal government equips the military through defence funding or arms grants with finances and supplies. The funding of the military in Nigeria has over the years experienced increase annually with few exceptional years with the decrease in the allocation of defence finances (Okechukwu & Anyadike, 2013). Federal government has continue to invest in facilities that will also boost the morale of the security agents as military and police housing, construction, substantial salary increase, and staff promotion to the present administration, the capital allocated to the defence is more than the capital allocated to the health and education sectors (Ezeani & Ezeibe, 2011). Adequate financing of the security and defence sector in a nation enables the security agents to carry out effective and efficient operations. There were cases of reported fraud and diversion of fund meant for the procurement of arms, which is a major economic crime that will affect the effectiveness of the security agents of such nation when exposed to external and internal aggressions.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Successive government in Nigeria has invested massively through the budgets and allocations from the federal government, the security votes. Despite these huge investments in national security, economic/financial crimes, corruption, bribery, kidnapping, armed robbery are still the order of the day funds (Dada, 2015; Egbo, Nwakoby, Onwumere, Uche, 2012; Kumolu, 2013). As a matter of fact, the current researcher will quickly identify the reality that economic corruption begins with the poor management of the budgeted funds, misappropriation, embezzlement, diversion of the money meant for security development. Nnebe (2013) have shown that these allocated, budgeted funds for security collected by senior officials in the federation run into millions and sometimes billions of naira on a monthly basis. Despite
Also, it is a general knowledge that something needs to be done and that urgently to the issues of economic crimes and national security in Nigeria. It is widely agreed that security should be the responsibility of all and sundry, not restricted to government, the Police force or security agencies. Therefore, the current researcher attempts to identify the relationship between economic crimes and national security in Nigeria. More specifically, to examine how the incessant criminal financial/economic activities perpetrated by the political elites has affected national security in Nigeria.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between economic crimes and national security in Nigeria between 2015 and 2021 while the following are the specific objectives to:
- identify the trends and pattern of economic crimes in Nigeria.
- examine the root causes of economic crimes in Nigeria.
- analyze the influence of economic crimes on national security in Nigeria.
- Determine the solution to the menace of economic crime and threat on national security in Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
- What form does economic crimes take in Nigeria?
- What are the root causes of economic crimes in Nigeria?
- What is the relationship between economic crimes and national security in Nigeria?
- What are the solutions to the menace of economic crime and threat on national security in Nigeria?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
Government and Policy makers: The outcome of this study will enlighten the government of Nigeria, security agents, stakeholders, policy makers (Federal and states legislature) and the general public on the issues of economic crimes and national security in Nigeria, with clarification on several economic crimes being perpetrated in Nigeria and strategies that was put in place to reduce the rate of economic crimes, bribery, corruption, kidnapping, armed robbery as a way of improving national security.
Ministries/Government agencies: it will guide the federal ministries and other federal agencies such as EFCC, NDLEA. ICPC, NAPTIP and other public organizations in understanding the policies of government and the clauses in it that is contributing to economic crimes and constituting threats to the national security.
Public: It will particularly educate the general public on what the government is doing to protect Nigerians from economic crimes.
Researcher: This research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the economic crimes and national security in Nigeria, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area.
1.6 METHODOLOGY
Methodology is part of the research that shows the ways and approaches of collecting the data (Oliver, 2004). This research is primarily qualitative as it is based on the economic crimes and national security in Nigeria between 2015 and 2019. The reason for choosing the qualitative analysis strategy is the exploratory and the qualitative nature of study. According to Robson (1993), flexibility is always the main strength of the case study strategy in terms of interpretation and getting access to the specified places. The research is a based on secondary data. We used document analysis/content analysis as main method of data collection. Document analysis/content analysis also called “textual analysis” (Travers, 2001) in the study will include all kinds of academic articles, textual and multi-media products, ranging from television programmes to web sites on the internet
1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY
The study will cover all issues of economic crimes and national security in Nigeria between 2015 and 2021. It will also all economic issues that constitutes threat to national security. The independent variable is the economic crimes with financial crimes, corruption, bribery, kidnapping as subvariables while the dependent variable in National Security which is represented by peace in the nation
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Economic crimes: refer to illegal acts committed by an individual or a group of individuals to obtain a financial or professional advantage. In such crimes, the offender’s principal motive is economic gain
National security: the safety of a nation against threats such as terrorism, war, or espionage
Corruption: dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.
Bribery: the crime of giving someone money or something else of value, often illegally, to persuade that person to do something one want.
Kidnapping: an act of abducting someone and holding them captive.
