‘Governance failure fuelling violent extremism’ as FG commits to tackling insecurity

The North West recorded the highest crime rate in the country with 14 million cases, followed by the North Central with 8.8 million incidents, says the Presidency. The South East has the lowest occurrence with 6.1 million cases.

The report followed the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) debut of a concept tailored towards reporting data-backed issues within the polity to address conjectures.

The latest Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) is a novel concept that seeks to ensure that information dished out to the public is data-driven, not based on conjectures or mere assumptions.

Meanwhile, the Partnership Against Violent Extremism Network has declared that governance failure is the root of violent extremism in the country.  Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communications, Daniel Bwala, explained yesterday that “the concept is President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s goal” of running an all-inclusive data-driven socio-economic agenda.

The Presidency said the Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS), in its first report, released the data based on a survey conducted across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The data made available by the Presidential aide showed South West with 6.9 million, South South 7.7 million, and North East 7.9 million. NBS noted that the country witnessed a drastic decline in kidnapping in the South, armed banditry and cattle rustling in the North, especially the North West.

“However, it is instructive to state without equivocation that the report released by the NBS is a pointer to the several efforts of the current administration in addressing the security challenges ubiquitous in the country.

“Unlike what obtained in 2023 where crime incidences were pronounced high and at a crescendo, the 2024 report largely revealed the synergy between all relevant security architectures of the country – including military and paramilitary agencies, not forgetting private sector collaborations fostered by the Renewed Hope administration of the President,” he stated.

On Inflation, the report about a slight increase in inflation is plausible relative to the recent natural disaster experienced by some states from the Northern extraction, the Presidency said, adding that, “the recent flood disaster that ravaged Borno State with a spill-over to states like Adamawa, Yobe and Gombe would no doubt have a devastating impact on agriculture, given that the nation depends on the North for food production. Understandably, the flood, with its concomitant effect, would naturally shoot up prices of goods.”

CHAIRMAN of the network, Jaye Gaskia, said the problem goes beyond just addressing security concerns but requires a closer look at the underlying governance issues that contribute to the rise of violent extremism.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Community of Practice for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism; Knowledge Innovation, and Resource Hub in Abuja, yesterday, Gaskia described violent extremism as a ‘governance challenge’ rather than a purely security issue.

According to him, many Nigerian communities are effectively ‘ungoverned spaces,’ relying on informal self-governance structures like community development associations, which lack formal authority.

On the NBS report that Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion as ransom in one year, he pointed out that Nigerian communities were struggling with the absence of effective governance, resulting in ‘ungoverned spaces’ where informal systems like Community Development Associations (CDAs) fill the void.

Noting that this lack of formal authority led to a significant problem highlighted by the NBS report, he canvassed for the empowerment of the local institutions to bridge governance gaps and drive sustainable solutions.

“Extremism does not thrive in places with good governance, inclusion and representation. Communities must be at the forefront of finding and implementing solutions to violent extremism,” he said.

The National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Maj-Gen Adamu Laka, highlighted the importance of youth and women-focused programmes like the Young Peacebuilders Network, which fostered alternative pathways and strengthened community-driven peace-building.

He emphasised the need for grassroots ownership of counter-extremism initiatives, stating, “Adopting local ownership through participatory planning and budgeting at state and community levels, alongside strengthened capacity-building for state actors, will ensure sustainable progress.”

Also, Deputy Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Suwaiba Dankabo, underscored the importance of consistent evaluation of strategies to ensure progress in peace-building.

On her part, the National Coordinator of Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, Yetunde Adegoke, emphasised the importance of non-kinetic approaches to complement military efforts.