SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS PROLIFERATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS PROLIFERATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Summary/Abstract: Throughout the world, violence, delinquency and fear undermine the basic right of individuals to live in peace and fully benefit from the healthy and sustainable commu-nity. More worrisome is the seemingly uncontrollable proliferations of small and light weapons which remained one of the major challenges for security and sustainable development in Nigeria. It is against this backdrop that this study examines the threats that small arms and light weapons proliferation portends on the Nigerian security and sustainable development. They study relied on secondary data and utilizes the content analysis for interpretation of data. This study is anchored on the state failure theory to underscore situations that warrant recourse to small arms and light weapons. The study concludes that the debilitating economy, failure of the state to provide the basic necessities of life, corruption, high rate of youth unemployment and sluggishness among the state’s instrument of force viz: the Army, police etc., are some of the major factors that serve as challenges to meaningful efforts and policies at combating the menace in the country. This study therefore recommends among others that the gov-ernment in all levels should embark on poverty alleviation programs and provide em-ployment opportunities to unemployed youths. This will discourage youths from join-ing ethnic militias and other militant groups that pose threats to peace and security in Nigeria.

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