SOCIAL FORCES MILITATING AGAINST EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE OF SECURITY AGENCIES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the social forces that hinder the effective performance of security agencies in Nigeria. Using a Social Disorganisation Theory developed by Clifford Shaw and Henry McKay, the study relied on the review of existing literature on the subject matter. It was a library research that identified corruption, inter-agency rivalry, poverty, unemployment, inadequate equipment, insufficient funding, lack of motivation of the security agents, inadequate man-power, political interference, tribal and religious sentiments in recruitment, lack of public trust, militarization policy in a democratic dispensation and insufficient training of security personnel as significant obstacles to effective security performance. The findings suggested that addressing these challenges requires prioritizing funding for security agencies, implementing anti-corruption measures and ensuring political neutrality in security operations. The study
contributed to literature in terms of contextualizing these social forces within the Nigerian security landscape, providing a nuanced understanding of their impact and empirical evidence from Nigeria, enriching the existing literature on security sector reform and performance. Further research is needed to analyse how international influence impacts security agencies’ decision-making and operations.