USAID Broadens Supports To Promoting Nonviolent Conflict Resolution In Nigeria
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
Violent conflict has continued to devastate social and governance structures and local markets in Nigeria especially in the Northeast region of the country.
According to reports, the ongoing insurgency by violent extremist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa has killed over 35,000 and displaced 2.2 million people in the region which also struggles with regular intercommunal clashes between farmers, herders, and other groups over land and water resources.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) successfully concluded the two-year conflict mitigation activity tagged ‘Building Community Resilience to Violent Extremism and Conflict in Northeast Nigeria’, also known as Northeast Connection, that worked to counter these violent conflicts.
Northeast Connection, Since 2021, promoted nonviolent conflict resolution from the grassroots to state government levels in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe states.
The activity provided over $2.1 million in small grants to almost 40 local organizations to strengthen local civil society capacity and promote local solutions to violence.
The Northeast connection activity is part of USAID’s strategic effort to decrease conflict and instability while promoting stability and early recovery in Nigeria.
A Conflict Specialist USAID/Nigeria, Mukhtari Shitu, at the closeout event, said USAID is committed to enduring partnerships with Nigerian government institutions and civil societies to mitigate violent conflict in the country.
Through mitigation peoject, implemented by Creative Associates, the USAID supported $10.1 million activity, worked in 90 communities across 15 local government areas (LGAs) in the three states.
Northeast Connection established 181 peace platforms that supported community organizers to identify and advocate for social priorities; trained more than 22,000 people in conflict mitigation and cross-community dialogues; as well as provided trauma-informed psychosocial support to more than 4,300 community members.
