The Spectre of Terrorism And Nigeria’s Industrial Development: A Multi-Stakeholder Imperative

Abstract

Since 2009, Nigeria has gradually slipped into a terrorist enclave where terror acts have become the regular signature of the country’s social memoirs. Aside the complex permutations of socio-economic and political upheavals already facing the polity, the sudden emergence of a supercilious army of terror extremists has not only exposed the polity’s unpreparedness for such an intimidating challenge, but has also brought a spectral bite to industrial development. Efforts to achieve development in industry in the country, a strong criterion for economic development and the improvement of the country’s Human Development Indices may continue to suffer setbacks in the face of a blistering climate of terror and bombings. The effect of terrorist activities such as suicide bombings, kidnappings, destruction of lives, public infrastructure, private and entrepreneurial investments, the climate of fear, panic and confusion and a heated and ungovernable polity has continued to make Nigeria an unsuitable bride for foreign investments. This not only poses a threat to the budding democracy in place, it also may endanger efforts to achieve industrial development in the country. To face this challenge headlong, a multi-stakeholder imperative has become inevitable. This research work investigated the role of government, private sector, civil society, faith and the international community in fighting the terror monster and providing the leeway for industrial development in the country, without which the standard of living, employment opportunities and other human development indices may maintain their downward trend outright.