The office of the National Security Adviser, NSA has designed an
economic revitalisation programme targeted at the states currently
affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, as part of measures to contain
insurgency in the country.
The NSA, Mohammed Dasuki made this known yesterday, during the public
presentation of the “Roll Out of Nigeria’s Soft Approach to Countering
Terrorism,” where he disclosed that the economic empowerment programme
was the Fourth Stream of the approach.
Part if the measure would also include interparty collaboration for
counter-terrorism aimed at ensuring that party affiliation did not
hinder stakeholders from contributing to efforts targeted at
countering extremism.
“Based on our understanding of the economic root causes of terrorism
and global best practices in addressing them, we are working with the
governors of the six northeast states of Nigeria to design an economic
revitalisation programme targeted towards the states most affected by
terrorism.
“In December 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan tasked leaders of the
northeast region and the NSA to develop a joint regional redevelopment
plan which will serve as the foundation for a federal-state
partnership to revitalise the region’s economy,” he said.
According to Dasuki, the first stream entails the De-radicalisation of
convicted terrorists, suspects awaiting trial and those who might be
released through court orders or such other government decisions
arising from the ongoing engagement and dialogue with repentant
suspect.
The NSA further disclosed that the second stream would involve
mobilising the family, cultural, religious and national institutions
ton preach the message of peace as against the message of violence and
war which he said was being preached in some quarters.
The NSA stated that the new approach would also involve government
partnering with faith based organisations, Non-governmental
organisations and other stakeholders to deliver counter-radicalisation
programmes at the community levels.
Dasuki also disclosed that he had commenced a partnership with states
and local government in the affected states to build structures,
strategies and programmes within the next 18 months aimed at building
the social fabrics of society that had been endangered by violence.
The third stream of the new security approach would involve building
capacity to communicate the country’s national values and
institutionalising these capabilities through strategic communication
for the military and law enforcement, and public diplomacy for the
civilian institutions.
He averred that at the heart of terrorism is a deadly communication
plan which he said furthers the aims of the terrorists.
“Unfortunately, terrorist groups have over time been clearer in
communicating what they stand for than government,” he said.
