NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Kidnapping has become a major security challenge in Nigeria, posing severe threats to rural communities that depend on agriculture for survival. In Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, frequent abductions between 2020 and 2025 disrupted farming activities, reduced farmers’ access to farmlands, and undermined household livelihoods. This study examined the effects of kidnapping on agricultural productivity, farmers’ income, food security, children’s education, and community wellbeing. Findings from statistical data analysis revealed that persistent kidnappings forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands, leading to reduced food production and discouraging investment in agriculture. Household income declined significantly, pushing families into poverty and disrupting children’s education as parents struggled to meet financial obligations. The scarcity of farm produce and other essential goods further increased food prices and worsening the economic hardship faced by rural households. Beyond these economic consequences, the fear and trauma of kidnapping eroded the psychological stability and social cohesion of communities. The study concluded that kidnapping constitutes not only a security problem but also a structural impediment to food security and rural development in Ovia North-East. It recommended strengthening community-based security, supporting affected farmers, and implementing holistic rural development strategies.

This study examined the relationship between interparty rivalry and national development in Nigeria, focusing on the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The study aimed to assess how political rivalry, policy implementation, party system balance, and socioeconomic consequences influence national development. A quantitative survey research design was adopted, and data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires to selected respondents. The data viii obtained were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, including multiple regression analysis, with the aid of SPSS Version 27. The results revealed that political rivalry had a significant negative effect on national development (β = 0.362, p = 0.000), indicating that excessive competition and political intolerance weaken governance and hinder progress. Policy implementation and party system balance both showed significant positive effects (β = 0.328, p = 0.001; β = 0.314, p = 0.002 respectively), suggesting that effective governance and stable political structures promote sustainable development. Socioeconomic consequences, such as unemployment and insecurity, had the strongest impact on national development (β = 0.386, p = 0.001). The regression model produced an R value of 0.734 and an R Square of 0.645, indicating that about 64.5% of the variation in national development is explained by the combined effects of the independent variables. The study concluded that interparty rivalry among major political parties in Nigeria poses a major obstacle to national development by fostering instability, policy inconsistency, and weak governance cooperation. It recommends the promotion of political tolerance, institutional reforms, policy continuity, and interparty dialogue to enhance democratic maturity and sustainable development in Nigeria.

The role of industry in the socioeconomic development of a nation remains a subject of interest in modern societies. It is expected that industrial activities and operation will lead to improved socioeconomic development in their areas such industries are situated. It was on this premise that this study investigated the role of industry on national development using a case study of PRESCO PLC in Obaretin Community in Edo state, Nigeria. A total of 291 participants selected at random were sampled for this study. Useful data were elicited from these participants using a well-structured questionnaire. A simple descriptive analytical approach was utilised to address the research questions of interest. The results of the study indicated that more of the participants (77.4%) agreed that the siting of PRESCO contributed in alleviating poverty in the host community. Further findings revealed that PRESCO’s corporate social responsibility impacted, at least to a high extent, on the host community. The studyhowever, found that majority of the participants (82.6%) at least agreed that siting of PRESCO brought about high development to the host community. Although, it was found that 92.5 percent of the responses were of the view that PRESCO had provided employment to host community to at least a high extent. It was recommended amongst others, that the company should scale up her provision of basic facilities, endeavour to continuously initiate programmes that will support and promote small scale businesses in the area, and improve social and economic development of host community.

This study investigated government policy on youths employment in Nigeria, taking an appraisal of President Buhari’s administration from 2015-2022. In order to achieve the aim and objectives of the study five research questions and one hypothesis were formulated. The study used descriptive survey method. The sample size for the study was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. A total of 204 workers were drawn using purposive sampling technique from the target population of 520 workers in the ministries of works, labor and productivity, youth development as well as N-Power employees, in Edo State. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of mean, grand mean, frequencies and percentages. The results revealed that youth employment and empowerment plays significant role on national development in Nigeria. Further results
showed that the problems that militate against the youth employment include poor implementation of existing policies and programmed, lack of efficient policies on youth employment, lack of social infrastructures make rural life unattractive, rural urban migration, concentration of social amenities in the urban centers, lack of employable skills and experience among youths, uncontrollable population growth, and corruption among others. The study affirmed that to a very high extent the current government policies have failed to help in solving the problems of youth employment in Nigeria. The study concluded that ineffectiveness of government policies to create jobs and find solutions to the unemployment has contributed to the static nature of the socio-economic development in Nigeria. The study implies that youth employment in Nigeria is essential for the rural and national development, as well as a key component in manpower development in Nigeria. Hence, adequate funding and commitment from both the Government, labor leaders, and policy makers will go a long way to help to promote youth employment and national development. Finally, the study recommended that government should fully implement the existing policies especially the national employment policy, also the government should provide social infrastructures in rural areas invest in human capital development and involve youths in the decision making process

The need for national development in Nigeria at this crucial time cannot be overstated in order to foster peaceful co-existence and national integration. Peace as well as nation building is an element that promotes unity, non-violence, economic growth and human development. However, the Farmers-herders menace that has been prevalent in some parts of Nigeria seems to make the concept of peace and national development a wild goose chase. As Okereke (2012) observed, all over the world (particularly majority of the third world countries and the Middle East) there has been a surge in the rate of violence, kidnapping, insurgencies, vandalism, rape, unemployment, terrorist attacks, cultism, and armed robbery, etc. The Nigeria state has had its fair share in this global challenge with the trend worsened by the spate of farmers-herders crisis. The armed Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria have destroyed many lives and properties worth millions of naira while influx of people have been rendered homeless