Small Arms Induced Conflicts in Nigeria and its Socio-Economic Implications in the North Central States

Purpose: This academic investigation examined possible security implications of small arms induce conflicts in Nigeria with a particular emphasis in the north-central region. It specifically aims to determine whether there is a link between the prevailing labour shortfall in the region and the small arms-induced conflicts in Nigeria's North-Central states. It also looked at whether the North-Central Nigerian region's existing deficient healthcare delivery system is related to the violence caused by small arms that is now prevalent there. Methodology: Carl Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient with the modified student t test and descriptive research design as well as the self-report approach were used in the study to generate the data and examine the relationship between the two key variables from 350 samples taken from the study population, using the theory of failed states as its analytical framework.   Findings: The study reveals a positive correlation between small arms-induced conflicts in Nigeria's North-Central states and the prevailing labour shortfall in the region. It also found that small arms induced violence in the North-Central Nigeria is implicated in the current shallow healthcare delivery system in the region Originality: This study focuses on the socio-economic implications of small arms induced conflicts in Nigeria with a particular emphasis on the North Central States. Implications: The study empirically explored the economic and health dimensions of the proliferation of small arms as well as how its resultant affects impinge on the social existence of the affected people globally with particular emphasis on North-central Nigeria. It is expected that this study will guide policymakers, management of both public and private organizations by providing enough insights into the benefits of stringent control of small arms importation in the country.