An Explorative Study of Economic Hardship, Social Vices, Security threat and Nigerian Nationhood

Abstract

The global economy presently suffers a lot of setbacks as exemplified by skyrocketing cost of living, health issues, economic downturn and associated drop in per capital income across nation, continents and the global community. This study explores the implications of economic hardship, social vices and security threat on Nigerian nation. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design using primary and secondary sources of literature with a population cutting across Academics/Public Servants; Artisans/Technocrats; Traders; Farmers; and, Transporters in five locations of Igboora; Ibadan; Oyo; Ogbomoso, and Saki out of which a sample size of 150 participants selected through purposive sampling technique of 30 participants each were drawn. Data were collected through structured questionnaire and analyzed through weighted means and rank order statistics. The study revealed prevalence of economic hardship, security threat and social vices with all the items greater than the Criterion Mean Weight of 2.50 and Grand Mean of 2.97; infrastructural deficit, widespread corruption as well as government obnoxious policies (3.03, 2.60, and 3.07) ranked 2nd 3rd and first respectively as part of influencing factor of economic hardship, security threat and social vices in Nigeria; close relationship exist between economic hardship, security threat and social vices in Nigeria with Mean Weight of 3.20, 2.90 and 2.87 ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively above the criterion Mean Weight of 2.50. Hence, total overhauling of the nation’s economy, security architecture, citizens disposition, social protection programmes, food production capable of growing the economy among others, need be put in place by policy makers toward realization of sustainable economy and sustainable development goals.