The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has identified low human development as one of the major factors driving insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the northern part of the country.

Ribadu said the security challenges confronting the region could not be separated from its socioeconomic conditions, including limited access to quality education, healthcare and economic opportunities.

The NSA made the remarks while delivering a lecture at the convocation ceremony of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, where he examined the complex factors behind insecurity in Northern Nigeria.

According to Ribadu, insecurity in the region is a “complex web” involving socioeconomic, ethnic and religious factors.

He stressed that addressing insecurity requires more than military operations, arguing that the underlying conditions that make communities vulnerable to crime and violent extremism must also be tackled.

Education and Economic Opportunities

Ribadu linked the insecurity challenge to the region’s low Human Development Index (HDI), which measures key aspects of human wellbeing, including education, health and living standards.

He suggested that limited opportunities and poor socioeconomic conditions could create an environment in which vulnerable young people become susceptible to criminal activities and extremist recruitment.

The NSA’s position underscores the need for security measures to be complemented by investments in human capital and development.

Beyond Military Action

Ribadu’s comments also point to the limitations of relying solely on military operations to address Nigeria’s security challenges.

While security agencies continue to conduct operations against terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal groups, sustainable progress would require tackling the conditions that allow such groups to recruit and operate.

The Federal Government has repeatedly said it is pursuing a broader approach to insecurity, combining security operations with efforts to address its underlying causes. Ribadu previously said the government was focused on identifying and confronting the root causes of insecurity directly.

A Multifaceted Security Challenge

Nigeria’s insecurity has evolved into a combination of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, communal conflicts and other forms of violent crime.

Ribadu’s latest position suggests that the response must therefore extend beyond the security sector.

Improving access to education, healthcare, employment and economic opportunities could help reduce the vulnerability of communities and strengthen their resilience against criminal and extremist networks.

The NSA’s remarks come as the Federal Government continues to intensify its efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.

For Ribadu, however, lasting security will depend not only on defeating armed groups but also on addressing the socioeconomic conditions that continue to provide fertile ground for insecurity.