This study delves into the phenomenon of kidnapping for ransom within Nigeria's political economy, exploring how armed non-state actors exploit and victimize Nigerian citizens. Its objectives include identifying the root causes, examining motivations, and assessing the implications of kidnapping on national security. Qualitative research methods, including a survey research design and phenomenological approach, were employed in nine selected Local Government Areas of Taraba State. Through Focus Group Discussions involving victims, eyewitnesses, security personnel, traditional rulers, vigilantes, and journalists, primary data was collected. The study is anchored on the reformulated Organized Crime Theory (OCT) as its theoretical framework. Findings indicate that poverty, unemployment, and the state's weak security capacity are primary causes of kidnapping. Motivating factors for kidnappers include the payment of hefty ransoms, recruitment opportunities, and fulfilling sexual desires. Implications of kidnapping on national security include the proliferation of weapons, violence, damage to the national image, and the emergence of community militias. Recommendations include the establishment of state police, the introduction of new and more poverty alleviation programs, and adopting a bottom-up approach to tackle the menace effectively. Keywords: Commoditizing human beings, kidnapping for ransom, national security DOI: 10.7176/DCS/9-1-07 Publication date: April 30th 2024
Road construction raises a number of sustainability concerns. It becomes more complicated when it affects Indigenous people and their traditional livelihoods. This study attempts to examine the impacts of road construction on Indigenous peoples of the Chattogram Hill Tracts. There have been very limited studies to understand how Indigenous people and government road construction experts perceived about road impacts in this area. Given historical grievances among these Indigenous people since the British colonial period, it is important to examine what can be the causes of frictions. This research conducted a thorough examination of available documents, including government reports and past studies. It then conducted two separate surveys among government road construction experts and Indigenous people in the Chattogram Hill Tracts. Through our documentary review on past road construction, we identified that road construction caused deforestation, biodiversity loss, loss of Indigenous peoples’ ancestral lands, land degradation and drainage congestion. The survey among government experts identified agricultural land reduction, soil destabilization, landslide, deforestation, greenhouse gas emission, the emission of dust and particulate matters and substantial noise pollution. The survey among Indigenous people revealed that 95 percent of them did not receive any compensation. They lost land and other properties. Their agricultural production was reduced. A small proportion of them, however, did gain new employment and increased their income. Many recognized better accessibility to schools and health centers due to new roads. Keywords: Indigenous Peoples; Chattogram Hill Tracts; Road Construction; Land Encroachment; Environmental Impacts DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-5-02 Publication date: July 31 st 2023
Housing makes up the core component of human existence. It offers warmth, safety, an oasis for seclusion, tranquillity, repose, an avenue for bonding with friends and family, and a sense of community. Beyond just providing a place to stay, individuals' standard of life, interactions with others, and general well-being are all significantly influenced by their housing. Nonetheless, in Ghana, housing is a significant problem impacting urban and rural communities. Providing adequate, affordable, and high-quality housing for the nation's expanding populace is fraught with difficulties. Shortages in housing supply, problems with affordability, and restricted access to home financing are some of these difficulties. Increasing urbanisation and a growing population have created an enormous need for housing, leading to a shortfall of accessible units. The shortfall is especially severe in urban areas, where a surge of individuals seeking more excellent economic prospects stresses the housing supply. As a result, several Ghanaians turn to slums characterised by poor housing conditions, a lack of basic infrastructure, and an unhealthy environment. This paper gives an in-depth examination of Ghana's housing profile, emphasising the present housing situation, housing deficiencies, their causes, and suggested policy measures. It also explores the main issues and offers suggestions for solving the nation's housing needs by thoroughly analysing the existing literature, reports, and other sources. Keywords: Ghana, Housing profile, Housing deficits, Sustainable housing, Policy recommendations DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-7-03 Publication date: December 31 st 2023
The aftermath of September 11, 2001, terror attack on the US opened a global floodgate of discourse, not only for scholars and media but also political actors, statesmen and stateswomen alike. The event left in its wake issues and contestations ranging from, but not limited to, terrorism, human security/insecurity, counter-terrorism, human rights abuse and violation, values, state's power, use of force, torture, violence and threats of violence, etc. At the core of these issues and contestations is the concern for whose security is at stake; the state or the individuals making up the state? Who is responsible for the safety and security of the state and its citizens? How or what is required to safeguard the state and or its citizens? Does state require more power to effectively protect itself and or the citizens? How can or should such power be justified? Addressing these questions require grounding in literature covering the broad intersection of these issues, with attention to the specific socio-historical context of the society concerned. In Nigeria, the reverberation of this global phenomenon is the burgeoning of literature on insurgency, terrorism and counter-terrorism, especially with the spread of radical activities of non-state actors across the country. This paper survey the terrain of insurgency/terrorism, particularly the activities of Boko Haram and how the Nigerian state is discursively responding to it drawing on the just war tradition. Keywords: Counterinsurgency, Critical Discourse Analysis, Language, Just War, Nigeria. DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-7-02 Publication date: December 31 st 2023
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was established as a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly pursuant to General Assembly resolution 302 (IV) of 8 December 1949 and commenced operations on 1 May 1950. UNRWA was established in response to the Palestine refugee crisis to provide emergency and relief services for Palestine refugees who were displaced to neighboring countries. The mandate of the UNRWA has evolved since its establishment. The Agency role extended to become a quasi-governmental role, providing health, education, socioeconomic development, and other services for its audience. The Agency was subject to many reforms in response to the developments in the political, operational, and financial context. The Agency began a comprehensive reform process that aimed at restructuring the UNRWA management system. The UNRWA identified several areas for reform, with an emphasis on its organizational structure as the main area of intervention. Organizational reform aimed to establish a new system of policies and practices, which aimed to adopt new policies and practices in different areas such as staffing and recruitment, performance management, compensation and rewards, and staff training and development. The new policies were meant to provide the Agency with an integrated system for staff management with an underlying message of implementing new practices. The uniqueness of the organization as a non-political IGO with a developmental and humanitarian service role provides an appropriate setting for this research study that can bring insights on deploying new policies and practices in an IGO context. This paper aims to address the role of the UNRWA, its functions, funding, and the implications of implementing the new practices and investigating their impacts on its operations. Keywords: UNRWA, Reform, Quasi-governmental DOI: 10.7176/DCS/13-7-04 Publication date: December 31 st 2023
