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Military Expenditures, Insecurity, and Food Prices in Nigeria

Author

Listed:
  • Ofem, Lekam Ujong

    (Department of Economics, University of Calabar, Nigeria)

  • Inaku Jacob Sunday

    (Department of Economics, University of Calabar, Nigeria)

  • Nkanu Thelma Ubi

    (Department of Business Administration, Louisiana State University)

  • Patricia Vaughan

    (Department of Public Health, Purdue University Global)

  • Adimorah Clement Onyia

    (Porsche Data Analyst German)

  • Abdullahi Ibrahim Usman

    (Department of International Relations, University of Lincoln)

Abstract

This study investigated the link between military expenditures, insecurity and food prices in Nigeria from 2005 to 2024. The specific objectives were to investigate the effect of military expenditures on insecurity in Nigeria and to determine the effect of insecurity on food prices in Nigeria. Secondary data from the Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin, National Bureau of Statistics and the World Bank Indicators, etc were employed in the study. The study adopted the Auto Regressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) to analyze the secondary data. The result of the long- run ARDL estimation of the food price equation revealed that insecurity has a positive and insignificant effect on food prices, minimum wage has a positive and insignificant effect on food prices, imports has a positive and significant effect on food prices, exports has a negative and significant effect of food prices, exchange rate has a positive and significant effect on food prices while agricultural outputs has a negative and significant effect on food prices in the long run period. Furthermore, the result of the long- run ARDL estimation of the insecurity equation revealed that military expenditures has a positive and insignificant effect on insecurity, unemployment rate has a positive and significant effect on insecurity, poverty headcount has a negative and significant effect on insecurity, inflation rate has a positive and significant effect on insecurity while gross fixed capital formation has a negative and insignificant effect on insecurity in the long run period. The study concluded that the positive but insignificant relationship between insecurity and food prices in Nigeria suggests that insecurity alone does not fully explain fluctuations in food prices. It was also concluded that the positive but insignificant relationship between military expenditure and insecurity implies that increasing defense budgets alone cannot solve Nigeria's security crisis. Instead, Nigeria must adopt a broader security architecture that addresses economic, social, and political drivers of conflict alongside military measures. Based on the findings and conclusions it was recommended that local communities should prioritized strengthening the rural security to protect agricultural activities. Also, the government should encourage farmers to adopt insurance schemes that protect against losses due to conflict or instability. More so, government should prioritize comprehensive security reforms beyond military spending. Furthermore, the government should ensure that military budgets are efficiently allocated, managed, and monitored, among others.

Suggested Citation

  • Ofem, Lekam Ujong & Inaku Jacob Sunday & Nkanu Thelma Ubi & Patricia Vaughan & Adimorah Clement Onyia & Abdullahi Ibrahim Usman, 2025. "Military Expenditures, Insecurity, and Food Prices in Nigeria," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(8), pages 7583-7609, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:issue-8:p:7583-7609
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Agaptus Nwozor & John Shola Olanrewaju & Modupe B. Ake, 2019. "National Insecurity and the Challenges of Food Security in Nigeria," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 8, December.
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    4. Solomon, Binga Lezuya (Ph.D.), 2021. "Impact of the Farmers and Herdsmen Conflict on Food Security; Focus on Taraba State," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 5(3), pages 564-573, March.
    5. J. Paul Dunne & Nan Tian, 2015. "Military Expenditure, Economic Growth and Heterogeneity," Defence and Peace Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(1), pages 15-31, February.
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