By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, Abuja
A recent book by Dr. Bassey Ita Etim Ikang examines the root causes of insecurity and poverty in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for inclusive governance, robust stakeholder engagement, and sound policy frameworks.
The book, divided into seven thematic chapters, provides an in-depth analysis of the nexus between insecurity, poverty, corruption, and leadership failure.
Quoting the World Bank and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the author said that over 135 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty, adding that insecurity, fueled by youth unemployment, corruption, and governance failure, continues to choke economic growth and productivity. Poor leadership and weak institutional frameworks, according to him continues to deepen national vulnerability, particularly in the face of climate change and economic mismanagement.
The solutions, he went on liess on, evidence-based planning and credible data systems, merit-driven leadership selection, reforms by prioritizing local production, human capital development, and elimination of policy inconsistencies, as well as creation of cottage industries across all 774 local government areas to boost rural economies and create jobs
The book however, advocates for a coordinated national response to Nigeria’s twin crises of insecurity and poverty through visionary leadership, coherent policies, and participatory governance.
By confronting corruption, empowering communities, and leveraging the nation’s vast human and natural resources, Nigeria can shed its tag as the “poverty capital of the world” and chart a new path toward national peace, stability, and shared prosperity.
