The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to countering and preventing violent extremism in the Northwestern part of the country, to address security challenges.
The Coordinator Counterterrorism Center, office of the National Security Adviser Mrs. Mairo Abbas disclosed this during a workshop on preventing and countering violent extremism in the Northwestern states of the Nation organized by the office of the NSA in collaboration with the Government of the Netherland, held in Kano.
Mario Abbas explained that the aim of the workshop tagged Masterclass for Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and Sokoto was aimed at reviewing National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, and also to understand and apply key PVE concepts, tools, and approaches in decision making and implementation.
She maintained that with regards to the challenges experienced in combating terrorism and other forms of extreme violence, the Federal Government of Nigeria decided that the kinetic approach alone cannot eradicate the threat.
“To this effect, the Policy Framework and National Action Plan for PCVE was developed in 2017. This policy framework adopts the non-kinetic or soft approach comprising of “Whole-of-Government” and a “Whole-of-Society approach” as Nigeria’s strategy to encourage the active participation of all stakeholders in building networks of peace for safer and resilient communities across Nigeria”
In a remark, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state represented by the Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Usman Alhaji said the workshop was very timely, especially in this era when the nation was facing security challenges
He said his administration had embarked on sensitization and enlightenment campaigns through sermons in religious institutions aimed at channeling the minds of youth against extremism and terrorism.
Earlier the Ambassador of Netherlands Harry Van Dijk represented by Ayunde Soule said the workshop was the fifth edition of the Masters class organized by the office of the NSA And the Government of the Netherlands aimed at enhancing security in the country.
The workshop was attended by participants from Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and the Sokoto States.
Abdullahi Jalaludeen
