NSA Designs Economic Plan For Boko Haram States olajohnson— March 18, 2014 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.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:21:05 +0000
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