Assessment of Management Framework for Urban Security in Gusau, Zamfara State
Assessment of Management Framework for Urban Security in Gusau, Zamfara State
ABSTRACT
Over the years, governments at different level have made spirited efforts at curbing urban crime and violence through established institutions.
Unfortunately, the war against urban crime and violence has been largely unsuccessful. This study is an attempt to assess the institutional framework for managing urban security in Gusau using the urban governance indicators with a view to make proposals for improvement.
The data used for the study were obtained from a semi-structured questionnaire, participant observation and document review.
Two types of surveys were conducted for the study; an institutional survey of the agencies responsible for urban security in Gusau, and a household survey to assess the activities of the security agencies from the viewpoint of public respondents.
The study also prepared security profile of Gusau town, this served as the basis for understanding the security situation in the study area.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Declaration – – – – – – – – – i
Certification – – – – – – – – – ii
Dedication – – – – – – – – – iii
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – iv
Table of contents – – – – – – – – vi
List of tables – – – – – – – – – xii
List of figures – – – – – – – – – xiv
List of appendices – – – – – – – – xv
Abstract – – – – – – – – – xvi
1.0 CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
1.1 Background – – – – – – – – 1
1.2 Statement of the Research Problem – – – – – 3
1.3 Research Questions – – – – – – – 5
1.4 Aim – – – – – – – – – 6
1.5 The Objectives of the Study – – – – – – 6
1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study – – – – – 6
1.7 Justification of the Study – – – – – – 7
2.0 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Definition of Key Terms and Concepts – – – – 8
2.1.1 Security – – – – – – – – 8
2.1.2 Dimensions of Security – – – – – – 8
2.1.3 Safety – – – – – – – – – 8
2.1.4 Crime – – – – – – – – – 9
2.1.5 Violence – – – – – – – – 9
2.1.6 Fear – – – – – – – – – 9
2.1.7 Fear of crime – – – – – – – – 9
2.1.8 The Linkage of Crime and Violence – – – – – 10
2.2 Causes of Urban Insecurity – – – – – – 12
2.2.1 Theoretical Perspectives – – – – – – 12
2.2.2 The differential association theory – – – – – 12
2.2.3 Frustration Aggression Theory – – – – – 12
2.2.4 The Anomie Theory – – – – – – – 12
2.3. Factors that Contribute to Crime and Violence – – – 12
2.3.1 Risk Factors for Crime and Violence – – – – – 13
2.4 The Impact of Insecurity on Urban Areas – – – – 14
2.4.1 The Socioeconomic Costs of Crime and Violence – – – 16
2.4.2 Direct costs of crime and violence – – – – – 16
2.4.3 Non-monetary costs of crime and violence – – – – 16
2.4.4 Economic multiplier effects of crime and violence – – – 16
2.4.5 Social multiplier effects of crime and violence – – – 17
2.5 Importance of Security to Urban Areas – – – – 17
2.5.1 Principles for Effective Institutional Framework of Urban Security – 18
2.5.2 Attributes of Cities Fit to Live – – – – – 20
2.6 Urban Security Management Strategies – – – – 21
2.6.1 International cooperation – – – – – – 22
2.6.2 UN-Habitat Safer Cities Programme – – – – – 23
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2.6.3 National level – – – – – – – – 25
2.6.4 Sub-national level – – – – – – – 25
2.6.5 Integrated development plans in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South
Africa – – – – – – – – 26
2.6.6 Institutional and Community Responses – – – – 27
2.7 The process of planning for Safer Cities – – – – 29
2.7.1 Goals and principles – – – – – – – 29
2.7.2 The basic process for considering safety in small and complex projects 29
2.8 Factors that Enhance Safety and Security in Urban Environment – 32
2.9 The Assessment criteria – – – – – – 33
2.9.1 Good urban governance – – – – – – 33
2.9.2 Characteristics of good urban governance – – – – 33
2.9.3 Key urban issues – – – – – – – 34
2.9.4 The urban governance initiative – – – – – 34
2.9.5 Good governance report card – – – – – 35
2.9.6 The target users of the report card – – – – – 36
2.9.7 The aim of the report card – – – – – – 36
2.9.8 The expected outcome – – – – – – 36
2.9.9 Explanatory note on the selected indicators – – – – 37
3.0 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Conceptual framework of the study – – – – – 39
3.1.1 Research Approach – – – – – – – 40
3.1.2 Data required, Rationale and Sources- – – – – 40
3.2 Criteria for Assessing Urban Security Institutions in Gusau – – 42
3.3 Method of Data Collection – – – – – – 43
3.3.1 Institutional Survey – – – – – – – 44
3.3.2 Interviews – – – – – – – – 44
3.3.3 Sampling Design and Field Procedure- – – – – 44
3.3.4 Sampling Techniques – – – – – – – 45
3.3.5 Sampling Size – – – – – – – – 46
3.3.6 Data presentation and analysis- – – – – – 46
4.0 CHAPTER FOUR: SECURITY PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA
4.1 Background to the study area – – – – – – 47
4.1.1 Zamfara State in the Context of Nigeria – – – – 47
4.1.2 Background of the study area – – – – – – 48
4.1.3 General Land Use Pattern of the Study Area – – – – 50
4.1.4 Gusau Planning Districts – – – – – – 52
4.2. Types and characteristics of crime and violence in Gusau – – 54
4.2.1 Frequency of occurrence of crime and violence in Gusau – – 56
4.2.2 Differential feeling of insecurity among the residents – – 56
4.2.3 Reasons for the feeling of insecurity – – – – – 57
4.2.4 The Hot-spots in Gusau – – – – – – 57
4.3 Contemporary Efforts at Enhancing Security of Life and Properties in
Gusau – – – – – – – – – 58
4.3.1 The role of Nigeria Police Force – – – – – 58
4.3.2 Funding of the Security Agencies – – – – – 61
4.3.3 Governments Reactions to the increasing level of insecurity in Gusau 61
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4.3.4 Social and economic programmes aimed at crime and violence prevention in
Gusau – – – – – – – – – 62
4.3.5 National Economic Empowerment Development Strategies: Security
Dimensions – – – – – – – – 62
5.0 CHAPTER FIVE: ASSESSMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL
FRAMEWORK
5.1 Assessment of Institutional Framework for Urban Security in Gusau 65
5.1.1 Review of relevant laws, decrees and edicts – – – – 66
5.1.2 Inferences learnt – – – – – – – 66
5.2 Assessment of Urban Security Institutions in Gusau – – – 67
5.2.1 Assessment of the level of coordination among the security agencies 67
5.2.2 Assessment of the level of adequacy of functions of the security agencies 68
5.2.3 Assessment of the level of responsiveness of the security agencies – 68
5.2.4 Assessment of the level of public participation in the activities of security
agencies – – – – – – – – 69
5.2.5 Summary of the overall assessment of the security agencies- – 70
5.3 Perception of Public Respondents on the role of Security Agencies – 71
5.3.1 Acceptance of the role of security agencies in crime prevention – 71
5.3.2 Assessment of the roles of security agencies in crime prevention – 71
5.3.3 Response of police calls to emergency – – – – 72
5.3.4 Method of contacting the police in times of crime and violence – 73
5.3.5 Assessment of characteristics of security agencies when dealing with the
public – – – – – – – – – 74
5.3.6 Types of security measures by the public – – – – 74
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5.3.7 Neighborhood association and vigilante groups – – – 74
5.3.8 Suggestions by residents for making the town safer – – – 75
6.0 CHAPTER SIX: FINDINS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND
CONCLUSION
6.1 Summary of Findings – – – – – – – 76
6.11 Recommendations – – – – – – – 78
6.2 Proposed Management Framework for Urban Security in Gusau – 80
6.2.1 Proposed policy approaches to crime and violence reduction – 80
6.2.2 Proposed role of Local Government in managing urban security – 82
6.2.3 Rationale for the role of local government in crime prevention – 82
6.2.4 Local government involvement in preventing crime and violence – 83
6.2.5 Resources and financing – – – – – – 85
6.2.6 Possible sources of finance – – – – – – 87
6.2.7 Partnerships – – – – – – – – 87
6.2.8 The key challenge for crime and violence prevention partnerships – 88
6.3 Conclusion – – – – – – – – 88
6.4 Contribution of the research to knowledge – – – – 89
6.5 Area for further research – – – – – – 89
References – – – – – – – – 90
BACKGROUND
The essence of security, as noted by Nwolise (2007), is to ensure human safety and freedom. Without the security of life and properties, life is meaningless.
People will not be motivated to work, produce, save and invest. Security is also vital for economic production, growth and development.
Investors (Domestic and Foreign) require a secure environment to invest their capital. Nobody wants to invest his hard-earned resources in a place in which he is not sure or assured of his personal security and the security of his investments.
Tackling urban insecurity is an issue of good urban governance.
Good urban governance and secure cities are reciprocal and a building block of a vibrant urban environment where inhabitants are free from fear and where security is improved for citizens and neighborhoods, interaction among people, among groups and with public institutions becomes possible Agbola (2001).
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