Human security: A necessity for national development in Nigeria’s post Covid-19 Era

Abstract

Human security is an emerging paradigm for understanding global vulnerabilities whose proponents challenge the traditional notion of national security by arguing that the proper referent for security should be the individual rather than the state. Human security holds that a people-centered view of security is necessary for national, regional, and global stability. Human security includes traditional national security concerns such as security from external aggression, security from external intervention, security from foreign occupation, and security from internal strife. It also includes livelihood provided by: steady jobs and meaningful employment, security from disease, food security, protection from crimes and domestic violence, freedom from political repression, right to clean air, safe water, and a sustainable healthy environment, right to practice one's religion freely, etc. The thrust of this work is to elucidate the importance of the security of the 'human person' for the effective national development of the Nigerian state, especially in the post-Covid-19 era. The research will focus on the livelihood phase of human security, including security from disease, food security, etc. The study will also examine the nexus between Human Security and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The paper employs secondary source materials.