Government Expenditure on Defense and Battle-Related Deaths (Published)
This study investigates the correlation between government expenditure on defense and battle-related deaths in Nigeria, analyzing data from 2000 to 2022. Despite significant defense spending, Nigeria continues to experience high levels of insecurity, with incidents of violence, kidnappings, and terrorist activities persisting across the country. Utilizing a correlational model, the research explores the connection between defense spending and conflict fatalities, revealing a strong positive correlation between these variables. The findings suggest that while increased defense budgets aim to address security issues, they have not resulted in the anticipated reduction in battle-related deaths, potentially due to resource misallocation, corruption, and a focus on militarized approaches rather than addressing the root causes of conflict. Additionally, external factors, such as regional instability and the proliferation of arms, may exacerbate insecurity despite increased spending. These results underscore the need for a comprehensive strategy that balances defense spending with socioeconomic investments to address underlying factors driving insecurity. The study recommends shifting some resources toward conflict prevention, community policing, and initiatives that promote social cohesion, aiming to achieve a sustainable reduction in violence.
Keywords: Government Expenditure, Insecurity, Nigeria, battle-related deaths, conflict prevention, defense spending, regional instability, socio-economic investment, sustainable development goals.
Government Agricultural Expenditure and Sustainable Development Goal One in Nigeria (Published)
This study investigates the impact of government expenditure on agriculture, inflation, exchange rates, and interest rates on poverty in Nigeria from 2000 to 2022, using panel regression analysis to explore the relationship between these variables and the Poverty Headcount Ratio (PHR). The findings reveal that government expenditure on agriculture has a significant positive effect on poverty levels, indicating that higher agricultural spending may inadvertently contribute to increased poverty in the country. While inflation and exchange rates do not significantly affect poverty, interest rates show a positive and significant relationship with poverty, suggesting that higher interest rates exacerbate poverty by limiting access to affordable credit. The study highlights the importance of enhancing the efficiency of agricultural spending and reducing interest rates to alleviate poverty. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for comprehensive economic policies and institutional strengthening to address the complex factors influencing poverty in Nigeria. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing new insights into the mixed effects of agricultural expenditure and the significant role of interest rates in poverty dynamics. The findings offer valuable recommendations for policymakers aiming to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development in Nigeria.
Keywords: Agriculture, Exchange Rates, Government Expenditure, Inflation, Interest rates., Nigeria, Panel regression, Poverty Reduction, economic policy, poverty headcount ratio