The United States government has said that the problem of insecurity in Nigeria would come to an end if the federal government eradicates poor governance and as well addresses the increase in security force abuses and impunity within both military and police.
Briefing the United States House of Representatives’ Foreign Assistance Committee in Washington DC during the week, Mr. Earl Gast, the Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, said that poor governance remains a consistent impediment to development and a major trigger for political violence and public discontent.
“Unless Nigerians begin using their substantial human and natural resources to address these challenges, the destabilizing influence of violent extremist groups such as Boko Haram, as well as inter-communal conflicts in the Middle Belt and Niger Delta, will continue to undermine Nigeria’s aspirations toward development and its desire to play a greater role on the world stage” he said.
The United states official further added that without addressing the increase in security force abuses and impunity within both the military and police, violence will continue to spiral.
Mr. Earl Gast pressed further that Nigeria’s uneven development has potentially created conditions for extremism that could pose its own formidable threat to security in the region, noting that a high poverty rate, coupled with a large population of unemployed and underemployed youth—41.6 percent of those between the ages of 15-24—heightens the risk.
“Creating a culture of peace that acknowledges and transcends Nigeria’s ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity is critical for stability, democracy, and economic development. Since 2000, USAID has worked with the Government to reduce violence through efforts thatprevent and mitigate conflict arising from sectarian and ethnic tensions”
“A new project set to begin in 2012 will focus on strengthening the ability of Nigerian stakeholders, including government, to better understand and address causes and consequences of violence and conflict in priority states and communities” he noted.
As part of the programmes of the United States Agency for International Development to help Nigeria combat insecurity, Mr. Gast said that the agency has promoted interfaith dialogue and stronger collaboration between government and civil society to reduce sources of tension and build robust conflict early-warning systems.
He continued that the contributions of the United States agency include working with traditional leaders to build on existing cultural and social resilience to violence, such as our programming in the Middle Belt that supports groups working across religious and cultural communities to mitigate conflicts when possible and provide early warning when serious troubles arise.
His words: “In the states of Bauchi and Sokoto, USAID and its partners havebuilt the capacity of elected local authorities and supported small-scale community improvement projects, which tie in with our ongoing health and basic education programs. USAID is also examining ways to incorporate governance and conflict mitigation throughout all programming in its next five-year strategy beginning in 2014”
The US Official added that these programs were designed and commenced implementation before the Boko Haram phenomenon spread beyond a few communities in north-eastern Nigeria.
“However, they reflect the underlying economic challenges stemming from neglect of the agricultural sector and infrastructure across Northern Nigeria, as a result of poor governance, corruption, and an overreliance on oil revenues that skewed the terms of trade away from other productive sectors” he noted.
Source: LEADERSHIP News
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aso4life1
chicco77
lumenchristi
wat is apening in 9ja today is greedy, our leaders dnt seem to understand wat d massive r passing 2rous all wat d nid is their selfish ambition, hw i wish dat dis so called boko haram r attacking dem and leave innocent citizen. 
dlimelite
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