REFOCUSING RURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES AS PANACEA FOR NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC AND SECURITY CHALLENGES IN A POST-COVID DISPENSATION

Abstract

The study examined the challenges confronting the Nigeria economy and security over the years which seems unresolved, with redirection of focus on better development initiatives. The objectives of the study include identification of these challenges obstructing development in Nigeria; solutions proffered by government; factors mitigating against the effectiveness of such solutions and to redirect development initiatives towards curbing security and economic problems in Nigeria. Data were obtained from secondary sources: indexes of scholars’ work on relevant literature through journal articles, book and papers. The descriptive analytical pattern was adopted in the study. Findings revealed that despite several governmental efforts to tackle these challenges, the solutions have not yielded the desired results as the problems still lingers and increases daily due to certain factors acting as impediments. The paper suggested and redirected the focus of curbing these challenges to rural development initiatives through strategic planning, access to alternate funding sources, education and skill improvement among others as best route to tackle these challenges in a post covid dispensation of Nigeria. The study therefore, recommends among others that there is urgent need for developmental reforms and policy redirection towards combating these challenges.