POLITICAL ECONOMY OF COUNTERINSURGENCY IN NIGERIA, 2009-2019

Abstract

Insurgency in Nigeria is an impediment to national security. The attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents on security agencies, civilians, public and private buildings in Nigeria have become very worrisome. This social violent act seems to have defied all measures so far put in place by government. The main objective of this study is to assess the defense budgetary allocation in Nigeria from 2009 to 2019. In view of this, the study investigated the defense spending in the war against Boko Haram by the Nigerian state. It utilized theory of post-colonial state and adopted documentary method of data collection. The study discovered among others that despite the increase in defense budget for the past 10 years, the activities of Boko Haram insurgency is still escalating. The study recommended among others that defense budget should be used for the procurement of weapons by the minister of defense.