Nigerian Journal of Peace, Development & Humanitarian Affairs

Partnering for Security: The Role and Imperatives of Local Non-State Actors in Nigeria

William E. ODION, Patrick I. CHUKE, Patrick N. UHUNMWANGHO — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Nigeria is a country blessed with natural potentials that can be harnessed for development. Ironically, she is currently confronted by myriads of security challenges that have impeded the march to development. With the challenges overwhelming the state's capacity to provide adequate security for lives, properties and threats to the statehood at large, partnering in the process has, therefore, become a ready alternative. Unfortunately, even with the plethora of legal security agencies, the security challenges have assumed a demographic dimension in the country with peculiarity found in the various regions. In the attempt to discuss succinctly the Local Non-State Actors (LNSAs) as partners in the security management of the country, this paper identified the forms of LNSAs, the propelling reasons that necessitated LNSAs in the Nigerian context, their operational challenges, the emerging security challenges and demographic spread. It concluded that security challenge is widespread in the country with recorded deaths and loss of properties. Therefore, the idea behind LNSAs is a welcome development that deserved encouragement, particularly now that the federal government has risen to the challenge of recognizing community policing in the country. But, more importantly, they should be closely monitored to avoid misuse and abuse.

Human Rights Violation in Africa: A Critical Assessment of Rule of Law in Nigeria

Ikechukwu Jude Donald NWOSU — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The discourse about human rights violations has been a recurrence among scholars in Africa. This is because the lives of the African citizens particularly the Nigerians are been decimated and harassed on daily basis through nefarious acts. A bid to find out the magnitude of violation of human rights in Nigeria necessitated this study. Its central focus is to critically assess how rule of law in Nigeria has addressed human rights violations among the citizens. The study further ascertained the nature and level of violation of human rights amongst the citizens of Nigeria. The paper was anchored on both historical and analytical, as facts and figures were gathered from secondary sources using the content analysis method. Judging from the theoretical underpinning of this study, the Social Contract Theory of State stipulates that the rule of law is very important to human existence as it helps to regulate citizens’ actions and make them live harmoniously with each other as without the presence of law, it will be impossible if not difficult for the citizens to get access to basic amenities of life. It was observed that the failure to strictly adhere to the principles of rule of law has resulted in human rights violations which are evident in violation of the right to life, freedom of expression among others. It was therefore concluded that the principle of rule of law if imbibed and practised irrespective of social status, religion or ethnic grouping will engender a peaceful and harmonious nation.

Scourge of Ages: African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) Interventions in Somalia and the Free Reign of Violence in Africa

Oluwaseun BAMIDELE , Olusegun Oladele IDOWU — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

For the draftsmen and composers of the African Union (AU), the organ of Peace and Security Council (PSC) is not only a clone of the Security Council of the United Nations; it is intended to give aggregate security and early-cautioning course of action against Africa's unlimited clashes and to encourage auspicious and proficient reaction. Also, the Constitutive Act and the Protocol on the PSC accommodate more vigorous engagement and significantly more noteworthy extension in examples of both between and intra-state clashes. Be that as it may, the intercessions of the PSC in some of Africa's auditoriums of contention have brought up central issues on how the organ plays out its triangular parts of contention anticipation, administration, and determination. With a unique spotlight on the Horn of Africa - the most unstable and seemingly a standout amongst the most hazardous districts on the planet, the paper expects to evaluate the difficulties confronting PSC mediation instruments, particularly the parts of the African Standby Force and its activities. The paper contends that the PSC must move past negligible talk of plan setting to more 'powerful or aggressive' engagement by fortifying its tasks. It at last backers’ proactive strategy choices on how its parts could be upgraded in the district.

Coronavirus Disease-2019: A Threat to Global Peace and Security

Tinashe RUKUNI, Noel KANSIIME, Asani COLLIN, Olaoluwa Babatunde A. OYINLOYE — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The outbreak of the “Coronavirus disease 2019” on a worldwide basis has brought about an unprecedented threat to the already fragile global peace and security position. The epidemic has had catastrophic social, economic, and political consequences on a global scale. The global pandemic which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019 has become a source of serious international debate, a humanitarian crisis of fearsome proportions, and sparked conflict among the world's major powers. It is against this background and perturbing development that this paper interrogates the implications of Coronavirus disease 2019 as a threat to global peace and security. Thus, the fulcrum of the ensuing discourse is anchored on the examination of the post-Covid-19 outbreak humanitarian crisis, surge in domestic violence in lockdown periods the world over, the imminent world economic recession, food insecurity, revival of xenophobia related violence and the ignition of geopolitical conflict mainly among the world's major economic and political powers. The paper was based on the qualitative research paradigm, as it sought to probe deep into contemporary issues around the novel Covid-19 pandemic. The paper found out that Covid-19 is a serious threat to global peace and security and has also perpetuated a global humanitarian crisis, gender-based, economic recession violence, and xenophobia. Based on the salient findings and major conclusions reached the paper ends by proffering recommendations tailored to promote global peace and security in the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak.

United States Withdrawal from Iran’s Nuclear Deal: Implications for Global Peace and Security in the 21st Century

Aderemi Opeyemi ADE-IBIJOLA, Chinedu Victor EMMANUEL — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The United States withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal better known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 was one of the biggest and most controversial foreign policy decisions made by the Donald Trump Presidency. Since America withdrew from the JCPOA, tensions between the United States and Iran have risen steadily and reached a boiling point in recent months, sparking fears of war. It is within this context that this paper examines the implications of America withdrawal from the nuclear deal for global peace and security in the 21st century. The study adopted a qualitative research method that is descriptive and explanatory. Primary data were collected through in-depth interviews while secondary data were obtained from books and other sources. The study leveraged the liberalist and realist theories to explain America withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the Iranian response. Findings revealed that the United States withdrawal from the nuclear deal has worsened relations between Washington and Tehran given the escalating tension between the two countries especially with the killing of a top Iranian General by the United States in January 2020. The paper, therefore, recommends a renewed round of talks among parties to the JCPOA to address the contentious issues in the deal.

Nigeria’s Amalgamation, Social (In)Justice and Security Implications

Temidayo David OLADIPO, David Oluwafemi BODUNDE — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Nigeria emerged in 1914 after the colonialists amalgamated the southern and northern protectorates for administrative purposes without negotiation of the conditions of amity between peoples of both sides. However, with independence from British rule on 1st October 1960, come some challenges arising from glueing together peoples with divergent cultures, languages, historical antecedents and religions. Some of these problems have metamorphosed over time to generate serious security issues. Taking into consideration Nigeria’s political history, this paper examines the implications of the welding of diverse peoples with different orientations for Nigeria’s unity, peace and security. The core position of the paper is that amalgamation was accompanied by some inevitable social injustice that arose as a result of coercing unequals together; the consequence is that social injustice in the Nigerian state bred insecurity. This is so because Nigeria, as a result of the amalgamation, was made to become a deeply divided society. This is responsible for entrenching deep fault lines which have engendered violence and thus threatened security in Nigeria. The methodology employed for the study is qualitative in nature and involves critical content analysis of texts, library and archival materials.