Unemployment and the National Security Perspective
By Faisal Saminu Magaji
AREWA AGENDA – Unemployment is a term referring to individuals who are employable and seeking a job but are unable to find one. Furthermore, it is those people in the workforce or pool of people who are available for work but do not have one.
Every year the number of Nigerian graduates are increasing. Students are constantly graduating from tertiary institutions and hoping to secure jobs but only one of every ten graduate is so lucky.
As youths with vibrant dreams towards what the future of labour market holds after graduating from various disciplines such as medicine, engineering, Journalism, Law to mention a few, reality becomes cruel when meaningful engagement is not forthcoming and with time, the mind begins to dwell on various thoughts. An idle mind they say, is the devils workshop.
When desperation is at play, vulnerability sets in and they become open to any means of livelihood just to earn a living. Out of desperation a graduate with a gullible mind can be easily brain washed to join an illegal team for survival.
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Nigeria is combating a lot of security challenges especially with the dreaded Boko Haram extremist which has been in operation for about 10 years and the rampant cases of kidnapping nationwide, cybercrime to mention a few.
One will be quizzically lost by critically analysing how smartly kidnappers were carrying out their operation and that of other criminal activities in the country. Their mode of operation is worrisome because it’s done in such a way even the security agencies find it difficult to nab the kidnapping perpetrators in many cases. Is this not the work of a literate people. Doesn’t this has a direct link to unemployment in the country?
By my estimation, 80% of Nigeran states have witnessed different kind of crimes. In reference to Kano, there is issue of Kiddapping, rape, drug abused etc. However our teenagers, especially ladies when they are on their way to school are not secured because those criminals would be targeting them for all their ill intention.
Nigeria as a matter of urgency should deploy all the instrumentality necessary to tackle youths unemployment in order to reduce the amount of crimes or even curb it in our great nation. Failure to address youths unemployment in this country will not augur well with us.
Agenda is a Publication of young writers from Northern Nigeria towards Peaceful Coexistence and National Development through positive narratives.
