Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has identified what he described as foundational drivers fueling Nigeria’s persistent security crisis.
The governor said illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, inequality, weak institutions, ethno-religious tensions, poor governance and declining social values are responsible for the deteriorating security crisis.
Alia disclosed this on Friday while delivering a lecture at the quarterly lecture series of Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja.
He said Nigeria had witnessed an unprecedented wave of insecurity in recent decades, citing the Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and recurring herders-farmers clashes, which he said have claimed thousands of lives, destroyed property and posed serious threats to national security.
According to him, the Boko Haram insurgency represents a direct attack on Western education, underscoring the need for governments to strengthen the country’s education system as part of efforts to address insecurity.
The governor stressed that building an efficient public service and strengthening institutions remain critical to tackling the country’s growing security challenges, noting that the public service plays a central role in delivering essential services and meeting the needs of citizens.
He said effective public service delivery would help build stronger and more resilient communities, stimulate economic growth and promote social cohesion.
“Through efficient and effective public service delivery, we can build stronger and more resilient communities, foster economic growth, and promote social cohesion,” he said.
Alia also called for greater investment in inclusive, equitable and quality education, lifelong learning opportunities, technical and vocational skills development, teacher capacity building and safe learning environments across all levels of education.
He argued that education remains one of the most sustainable approaches to addressing the root causes of insecurity, including illiteracy, ignorance, poverty, religious extremism and unemployment.
According to him, when deliberately deployed as a national development strategy, education can reduce vulnerability to violent extremism, promote tolerance and empower citizens with the knowledge and skills needed for productive livelihoods.
The governor maintained that rather than relying solely on military action or threats, Nigeria should prioritise accessible, compulsory and functional education capable of fostering social cohesion, religious tolerance and economic empowerment.
He added that strengthening the education sector would not only improve human capital development but also contribute significantly to building a more peaceful, stable and secure society.
