YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND HUMAN SECURITY IN DELTA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was purposely undertaken to examine the impact of youth unemployment on human security in maritime areas of Delta. Survey and historical research designs were adopted in the study. Human needs theory was used to establish the nexus between youth unemployment and threats to human security in Delta State. Primary data was collected using in-depth interview and 5-Point Likert Questionnaire from a target population of 4,913 drawn from staff in Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), registered unemployed youths and local maritime transporters, staff of Agip, Tana security companies as well as fishing and oil producing firms in Delta State as well as National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Abuja. The sample size of the study is 370, gotten using Rakesh sample size formula. Therefore, 370 copies of questionnaire were administered to the respondents on a face-to-face basis. In-depth interview in the study involves gathering data about research questions from 2 key experts selected from each of the targeted population. Therefore, 22 respondents were interviewed based on their presumed depth of knowledge on youth unemployment and maritime security in Delta State. Secondary data were generated from publications of relevant organisations that make up the population units and available documents on youth unemployment and maritime security in Delta State. Data generated from questionnaire were analysed using simple percentages and absolute frequencies, while data collected from in-depth interview were analysed using narrative-analytic technique. Data from secondary sources were analysed using relational-content analysis. Findings showed that youth unemployment has largely increased threats to human security in coastal areas of Delta State. Among others, it was recommended that the Federal Government, Delta State Government and companies operating in Delta State, should work with traditional and religious institutions in the coastal areas of the State to ensure that the challenge of hunger, disease, poor school enrolment, among other human security challenges in the State are adequately tackled.