NIGERIAN MILITARY AND THE FIGHT AGAINST INSURGENCY: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

This paper explores connection between corruption, security and military effectiveness. It positions efforts to defeat Boko Haram, Hoodlums, and Bandits etc in Nigeria within the doorstep of Governance challenges. The empirical evidence has documented how corruption affected the effectiveness of military responses to insurgency. The Paper also found that the Nigerian armed forces do not have adequate weapons to prosecute the war against insurgents. There are also reports of a third force within and outside the armed forces that sabotage the efforts of the armed forces.  This third force is politically and financially exposed persons who are involved in corruption. The paper recommends adequate funding and monitoring of these funds of the armed forces to enable them purchase modern military equipments to fight the insurgents. The armed forces themselves should be motivated through training and adequate financial and material incentives. Finally, the federal government should fish out sponsors of Boko Haram and other groups in the country and punish them as provided by the law of the country. The finding reveals that corruption in the defense sector weakened the military's capacity to respond to National security swiftly. However, efforts to address corruption and sabotage positively leads to enhanced military capacity gearing towards a temporal victory.