The coordinator, Counter Terrorism Center of the National Security Adviser, Rear Admiral Yem Musa has assured Nigerians that the office is collaborating with ActionAid Nigeria to promote synergy and strengthen Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) implementation in Nigeria.
Rear Admiral Musa, who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the Stakeholders Consultative Forum on PCVE implementation in Nigeria, noted that preventing and countering violent extremism requires multidisciplinary strategies and approaches to achieve desired goals and objectives.
According to him, “Human rights and the rule of law remain the guiding principle in our strategies for combating violent extremism.”
He further said that preventing and countering violent extremism requires multidisciplinary strategies and approaches to achieve desired goals and objectives.
He said “the dialogue today is an opportunity for reflection on the progress and opportunities to foster peace through the promotion of tolerance and constructive contributions to building resilient communities.”
In her welcome address , the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi explained that ActionAid Nigeria in line with the theme of the National Action Plan on PCVE in Nigeria “Partnering for Safer and Resilience Communities,” believes that peace and security is the business of everyone and has engaged the process through its “Systems and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalization to Violent Extremism (SARVE) Project” funded by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, (GCERF).
She further explained that ActionAid Nigeria in the last five years has established and supported structures at community and Local government Areas (LGA) in Kogi and Nasarawa states towards creating an enabling environment for the prevention of violent extremism.
“Through the SARVE II project, ActionAid Nigeria has reached 1,614 persons (youth-600 male, 505 females: 509 adult women) with useful life skills to keep them engaged and away from the influence of extremist groups.
“The capacity of 60 police officers (15 women, 45 men) was built to be able to respond to rising issues on violent extremism through the crucial Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA) while working closely with community policing structures that already exist.
“In the same vein, 12 Local Government Conflict Management Alliance (LOCMA) structures was established in 12 LGAs in Kogi and Nasarawa States to be able to prevent conflicts from the communities and promoting peace at large.
“In Kogi state, the project supported the enactment of Kogi Youth Development Commission Law which is designed for the inclusion and engagement of youths in government and creation of more employment opportunities within the state towards reducing the vulnerability of youths to violent extremism.
“ActionAid Nigeria is dedicated to the fight against poverty; our vision is a world, without poverty and injustice, in which every person enjoys his or her right to life with dignity.
“ActionAid works in over 45 countries across the globe. It is important to highlight that in Nigeria, ActionAid has been working in Nigeria since 1999 working in various areas to include resilience building in the last 20 years,” she said.
