X-RAYING COST OF SECURITY SECTOR GOVERNANCE, HUMAN SECURITY AND REFORMS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Everywhere, security is the conscious effort to stabilize peace. The quest of the entrepreneurs of terror to profit from lasting violence causes them to weaponize insecurity in Nigeria. This article examines how the cost of security sector governance predisposes citizens to insecurity and justifies reforms in Nigeria. The study qualitatively reviewed secondary data from journal articles, textbooks, newspapers, archival and internet sources for thematic and content analysis. It used the Human Security notion as its theoretical framework to analyze how the cost of security sector governance impacts human security to justify reforms. The findings indicated that an intimidating crime wave, opaque procurement culture, and reckless discretionary disbursement of security allocation drive the high cost of security sector governance in Nigeria. These factors significantly facilitate the extravagance of security policymakers and implementers to pauperize Nigerians further and expose them to endless terrorist invasions. It concluded that the cost of security sector governance worsened the sporadic outbreak of victimisation and mass discontent against terrorism in Nigeria. The paper suggests adopting an expenditure framework in which gender mainstreaming, people-centred decision-making initiatives, and transparent accountability undergirded disciplined financial governance for recovery in Nigeria.