INSECURITY AND HOUSEHOLD WELFARE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The persistent issue of the insecurity menace has become a scholarly concern that propelled this study to examine the influence of insecurity on household welfare in Nigeria for the period 1986 to 2022 using the autoregressive distributed lagged (ARDL) model. Empirical findings reveal a significant and negative influence of insecurity on household consumption and income in Nigeria in the long run. The study concludes that insecurity detrimentally affects household welfare, prompting several recommendations. The study suggested comprehensive policies that are essential for addressing insecurity, emphasizing the imperative role of law enforcement and security forces. The study further suggested strengthening the national security infrastructure through technological advancements and interagency coordination and fostering resilience at the community level by supporting local security initiatives and collaboration with traditional leaders. The study also suggested the immediate implementation of social safety nets, including conditional cash transfers for vulnerable households, palliatives for affected areas, efficient food aid distribution, and the establishment of local police to eradicate insecurity.