Poverty and Insecurity in Nigerian Democratic Dispensation

Despite the introduction of democratic governance in Nigeria fifteen years ago, the country has been facing  unprecedented increased in poverty and insecurity. The argument that democracy is a machinery for  economic development, peace and stability have been disproved in Nigerian. Fifteen years into democratic governance, the main features in Nigerian democracy have been a significant increase in poverty, inequality, unemployment and insecurity. It is argued that poverty breeds insecurity. This paper analyses the link between poverty and insecurity in Nigeria. The study is based on secondary data. The data have been taken from journals, textbooks, magazines and newspaper publications. From the evidence of existing empirical literature, the paper identified a higher incidence of poverty as a factor that is responsible for the security challenges facing Nigeria currently.  In addition, it recommended three policy interventions as the panacea to the surge in poverty and insecurity in the country.