| Publication |
2009.
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| Summary/Abstract |
This article takes an in-depth look at the Niger Delta crisis from two divergent but
mutually reinforcing security conceptions, namely national versus people security. It
contends that while the Nigerian government views security from the traditional statecentric
viewpoint and accordingly acts to 'secure' the region, the people view security
from a broader human-centric perspective, and thus responds negatively to state
securitisation/militarisation. This clash of security perspectives sets the stage for and
perpetuates armed conflict in the region as the net result of both sides' insistence on
'securing' their interests, resulting in a situation of mutual antagonism as they bring
to bear their often considerable coercive capacities. Therefore, the broad question the
paper grapples with is whose security is paramount, and against what threats is it aimed.
It reaffirms the need for a paradigm shift in the focus on security by the Nigerian
state from a state-centric perspective that views the people's agitation/resistance as
'terrorism', to a human-centric perspective that will justify its Lockean essence. This is
essential, because the federal government's militarisation of the region fans the flames of
ethnic-nationalism, exacerbating violence and perpetuating criminality with attendant
destabilising consequences for Nigeria's economy and statehood.
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