By Vincess Okushi
It’s heartening to know that the Federal Government and the European Union have launched a new initiative to support the reintegration and reconciliation of NSAGs.
It’s important to provide a helping hand to those who may have strayed from the path and offer them a chance to rebuild their lives and become productive members of society.
The support with funding from the European Union and a consortium of UN agencies as key implementing partners was billed on implementing the Government’s effort within communities affected by non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in the northeast of the country.
Speaking at the launch in a statement made available to Quality TV on 17th March 2024, the National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu said the joint initiative aims to foster social cohesion, reduce stigmatization, promote tolerance, and create space for acceptance and belonging within targeted communities in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States.
The project strives to support authorities in effectively investigating and prosecuting individuals accused of terrorism offenses in the northeast, ensuring meaningful accountability and redress for serious crimesOn her part, Samuela ISOPI, Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said the program builds on the outcomes of previous efforts to promote peace and social inclusion in Northeastern Nigeria.Adding that It will significantly reinforce community-based approaches by enhancing the capacity of existing community-led frameworks to go through essential healing processes, promote reconciliation, and accompany the gradual reintegration of former associates of non-state armed groups.Samuela stresses that the program implementation plan recognizes the critical importance of community outreach and sensitization, effective administration of survivor-centered transitional justice, psychosocial support, and trauma healing, with more resilient vocational training, micro-grants, and infrastructure rehabilitation. Capacity building for local authorities in collaboration with civil society organisations with emphasis on the amelioration of access to basic services including joint monitoring and evaluation with the local communities.Healing, reconciliation, and reintegration in the North-east of Nigeria are possible. However, to achieve it, we must work together with all local stakeholders and leverage our collective expertise in close consultation and the necessary respect for the affected communities.
This is why we are happy to continue supporting this process in the hope that it will help rebuild broken bridges within families and communities and open pathways of hope.The program which started in 2014, is part of the broader EU support to the promotion of stabilization, peace, and security in the Lake Chad region with a total of €2.5 billion, with expertise and experience from the four UN agencies working in the northeast of Nigeria for several years.