Abstract:
A widely accepted hypothesis is that people are motivated by a hierarchy of needs. Safety and security of the
body, morality, employment, health and resources is the second level of human needs identified by Maslow.
Satisfaction associated with these issues is said to lead to a sense of belongingness and love and finally to
other higher order of needs. An investment in security becomes critical when one considers the broadened
view of security in relation to countries endowed with rich natural resources. Findings of recent studies
alluding to resource-curse and blessings suggest negative growth and development outcomes resulting from
natural resources. The rate at which natural resources are exploited becomes a cause for concern. Since the
gifts of nature are not renewable and cannot be replenished, countries endowed with rich natural resources
need to align themselves to economic, political, social, ethical and moral forms of governance that would
insulate the country from threats of disaster. Should countries fail to align themselves to strategies that
enhance sustainable socio-economic and political developments, countries could find themselves financing
conflicts through natural resource exploitation resulting in predatory rulers and predatory states that lead to
governments’ failure in fulfilling their mandate. Insecurity in its broadest definition reduces the return to
private effort and destroys private initiatives and consequently the benefits associated with security far
outweigh the costs of insecurity resulting in private and public rent seeking conduct. This paper presents
the returns accruing to a country’s investment in long term security and the conduct of the private and
public sector should elements of insecurity prevail.
