Youth Restiveness in Lafia Metropolis: Implications for Economic Development

Abstract

Abstract
For more than five decades since Nigeria attained nationhood, the country has had to grapple with various socio-economic and security challenges with many youth becoming restive. Youth restiveness has implications for the overall development of any society. The objectives of the study is to investigate the implications of youth restiveness on economic development in Lafia metropolis, using General Strain Theory of crime as theoretical framework. The study was a survey, with a sample size of 196 selected using survey software calculator (2014) from a population of 79938. In generating primary data, structured questionnaires were administered through purposive sampling technique. Data were analyzed using graphs and tables. Findings revealed the causative factors of youth restiveness to include poverty, peer influence, unemployment and access to arms and weapons. It was also revealed that restiveness has a disruptive effect on youth's employment and productivity status. The study concludes that the phenomenon has negatively affected the socio-economic fortune of Lafia and contributed to insecurity in the metropolis, besides stifling social life. The study recommends that there should be a national road map for job creation and employment generation, among others.