Abstract

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The security situation in Nigeria has become increasingly alarming and is a matter of grave concern. This pervasive insecurity has negatively impacted every aspect of life in the country and has persisted for over two decades. The situation continues to deteriorate, with the proliferation of armed groups in various regions, leading to frequent occurrences of kidnapping, insurgency, and attacks on lives and property. Despite the government’s efforts, including military interventions and other strategies, little progress has been made. A comprehensive approach to addressing Nigeria’s security challenges is urgently needed. One promising avenue involves the integration of smart textiles, which are advanced textile products—such as fibres, filaments, and yarns—that are woven, knitted, or non-woven and can interact with their environment. These textiles have the potential to perform functions related to communication, energy transformation, and conduction, and even to adapt or grow in response to stimuli. Smart textiles are capable of sensing and reacting to environmental conditions or stimuli from mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, magnetic, and other sources. This paper explores the potential of incorporating smart textiles into fields such as medicine, fashion, and home economics as part of a broader strategy to combat insecurity in Nigeria. It recommends that the government prioritize improving the standard of living, particularly for the youth, and that the fashion industry focus on producing clothing embedded with smart textiles to enhance safety, particularly in military uniforms and protective outfits. Additionally, smart textiles should be utilized in healthcare settings to monitor biological factors, facilitate health therapy, and improve the accuracy of surgical procedures, thereby making medical care more efficient and precise

Keywords: Smart textiles, Security challenges, medicals, fashion.