ABSTRACT
The study deals with the implication of insurgency on Nigeria economic growth. The study proceeded with the objective i.e. to investigate the implication of insurgency on Nigeria economic growth. The secondary source of data collection was employed to collect
the data and OLS regression was used to analyse the data. Gross domestic product is the dependent variable, and it proxies’ economic growth, while human development index, Global peace index, corruption rank, corruption perception index and relative corruption rank proxies insurgency which is the independent variable. The result of the findings indicated that there is a linear relationship between GDP and the five independent variables. The economy responds favorably to measures taken to improve human capital development in Nigeria. The GPI has negatively affected economic performance in the last 10yrs; the RCI has positive relationship with GDP until late 2014 when there was fall in oil price and the demand for Nigeria oil. The negative impact of CR and CPI has critically brought a downturn in economic performance generally. Government must discourage the attractiveness of public offices by running a low-cost government and invest more in public goods for the benefit of her citizenry. Public offices should be less attractive, proactive measure should be put in place to tackle insurgency both tactically and institutionally, the military must be strengthened.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to study
Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and a multi-religious state with a population of about 160 million people cutting across the divides of ethnicity and religious beliefs. Comprising 36 states, a federal capital territory (FCT) and 774 local government councils, it is a complex, multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation state according to (Oyeniyi 2012). The complexity of Nigeria as a nation state is centred on its political formation, economic, social and religious inclinations. As a nation state, the country since independence has experienced several ethnic and religious crisis of various degrees and magnitude (Gilbert, 2013). Grappling with such political and economically motivated crises, successive administrations in Nigeria have been criticized by either the Muslim or Christian faithfuls when they are not favoured.
The current Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east geopolitical zone of Nigeria that originally took the form of sectarian religious violence has escalated into terrorist activities with international linkages and affiliations making it a relatively difficult nut for the Nigerian government to crack (Gilbert, 2014). Consequently, Nigeria has not known peace for about four years now. The emergence of the fundamentalist Islamic sect, has led to the flight for safety and security of most Nigerians residing in the North East, especially Christians. Since the commencement of the terrorist operations of the sect, they have adopted several methods to unleash terror on the people. And most states of Northern Nigeria have experienced their dastardly activities, but the worst hit has been Adamawa, Bauchi, Bornu, FCT (Abuja), Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and Yobe (Nwakaudu, 2012:5).
