European Union has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts in preventing and countering violent extremism, with a €300 million grant targeted at addressing the root causes of terrorism, especially in the North-East and North-West regions of the country.
Speaking at a workshop focused on reviewing Nigeria’s policy framework and National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gaulter Mignot, emphasised the EU’s strong partnership with Nigeria.
The workshop was organised under the Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism (STRIVE) Global Programme, funded by the EU and implemented by Hedayah, an international centre for countering violent extremism.
Mignot highlighted that both Nigeria and the EU were members of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF), and the collaboration between member states and GCTF-affiliated organisations, like Hedayah, exemplifies the importance of coordinated efforts to tackle violent extremism and its underlying drivers.
He noted that the conflict in Nigeria’s North-East over the last 15 years had left devastating impacts on the Lake Chad Basin region, beyond the massive loss of lives and displacement of populations.
While acknowledging the Nigerian government’s progress in addressing terrorism both nationally and regionally, Mignot stressed that more work and investments were necessary.
He applauded the initiative to review and update existing strategies and policies, describing it as crucial in confronting a phenomenon as complex as violent extremism.
Meanwhile, in a renewed effort to strengthen Nigeria’s response to violent extremism, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has declared open a pre-review workshop for the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) at the National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja.
Represented by his Senior Special Assistant, Idayat Hassan, the NSA emphasised the urgency of revisiting Nigeria’s 2017 National Action Plan to adapt to the evolving landscape of extremist threats.
“Extremist groups continue to evolve, exploiting new technologies and online platforms. Our strategies must be proactive, dynamic, and aligned with both national priorities and global standards,” Ribadu stated.
He highlighted the importance of community resilience, digital literacy, rehabilitation and reintegration efforts and strategic communication as critical components in the country’s counter-extremism strategy.