STEVEN OKHONMINA

An increasing unemployment rate in Sub-SaharanAfrican economies presents amajor problem for the continent’s economies today. Since the early 1980s, economists and policymakers inNigeria have been deeply concerned about the issue of unemployment.Publicandprivatesectorsarepayingmoreattentiontothisphenomenondue tofinancialcrisis and this has exacerbated the country’s unemployment problem and, in turn, the country’s security issue. It is based on this premise that this study sought to examine the impact of unemployment on insecurity in Nigeria using the following research questions; how endemic is the unemployment situation in Nigeria? What is the relationship between unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria? How has unemployment brought about insecurity in Nigeria? To answer the aforementioned questions, the study employed the quantitativemethodology using the questionnaire as the primary mode of data collection. The major findings of the study were that; insecurity in all its forms has a negative impact on the unemployment situation in Nigeria which have further plunged the nation with increased hunger and instability. The general breakdown of law and order was said to have adversely affected the unemployment situation. Bad leadership was suggested as a possible reason for the rising insecurity situation across the country and that lack of Jobs drives youths to engage in all sorts of activities that cause insecurity. The study recommended that the administration of President Buhari must expand and improve upon its social intervention programmes to ensure the creation and provision of jobs to both skills and un-skills citizens of the country. This would go a long way in reducing poverty, and thereby minimizing the rate of crime in Nigeria and among Nigerians. Governance must therefore work to the benefit of its own citizens. Poverty and inequality should be eliminated if Nigeria is to be spared of violence. The government should create job opportunities for its unemployed youth. Without opportunity to work the people would feel that the society is against them and will wage war against them. Provision of employment has to be Nigerian priority.