Addressing patterns of violence and injustice in northern Nigeria

In the past year, International Alert Nigeria has been engaged in the co-creation of ideas that provide innovative solutions to complex conflict situations across Nigeria. Recently, a mutual peer learning platform was initiated for Commissioners of Security from the northeast and northwest to share lessons on patterns of violence and exit pathways. Attendees from the northeast had undertaken several positive initiatives on managing violence, injustice, and criminality, which this workshop allowed leaders from the northwest to learn from.

Organised in partnership with the Borno State Ministry of Information and Internal Security and the Forum of Commissioners and Advisers of Security for Northwest and Frontline States, the aim was to establish a formidable advocacy group to initiate changes in policy and practice.

“We leverage a lot on collaboration and partnerships,” explained Alert Nigeria Country Director Dr Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima to gathered members of the press, who were invited to raise awareness of the work being done to address patterns of violence in the northern states. “We see the media as strong partners the same way that we see decision makers as partners. We have worked at the policy level, national, State and community levels, ensuring that we promote stability, access to justice, reduce criminality, as well as gender-based violence across Nigeria. We hope that these engagements will be the beginning of great things to come.”

Dapo Oyewole, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on International Cooperation, mentioned that local leadership is the bedrock upon which international cooperation can be built. He outlined the aims of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which commits to providing the leadership necessary to address the nation’s challenges. Working with international partners towards a paradigm shift from dependency to shared responsibility is seen as crucial for sustainable development and long-lasting peace.

“The complexities of modern challenges require collaborative solutions that transcend borders and leverage international partnerships to forge sustainable solutions,” he said. “However, to engage effectively with our international partners, we must understand their priorities and agendas and align them with our national interests and strategic objectives. This alignment is not about dependency but about mutual respect and shared goals, we must not approach with a begging bowl but with a handshake of partnership where we also put skin in the game through able, capable, and committed political leadership.”

The workshop served as a platform for intensive discussions among key stakeholders and fostered peer learning and collaboration between participants. Major lessons from the conversation included how to:

• identify key drivers of violence as the basis for working out the solutions;
• use an appropriate mix of hard and soft negotiation skills and approaches;
• utilise informal relationships and networks for peacebuilding and reconciliation;
• build a coalition for peace among a range of actors (including state, non-state and civil society);
• formulate and advocate for effective policy and expand platforms for regular intergovernmental interaction

These key outputs from the meeting would be developed into a joint advocacy strategic plan to tackle some of the issues that were identified at different levels with key stakeholder institutions as it affects northwest and northeast Nigeria.

Our appreciation goes to the United Kingdom’s Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF), the Senior Special Assistant to the President on International Cooperation, the Borno State Commissioner for Internal Security and Information, the Senior Adviser to the Borno State Governor, the Special Adviser to the Borno State Governor on Security Affairs, and the House member representing Borno Ministry for Internal Security. Attendees included the Commissioners of Security for Kaduna and Kano State, the Chairman Commissioners of Security and Frontline States, the Attorney General for Zamfara, the Director General of the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, the Director General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and representatives from the Nigeria Governors Forum, National Institute for Security Studies, National Chairman Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), President NCWS, FIIDA Kaduna, Nigeria Youth Parliament and several media organisations.