UK supports youth empowerment against terrorism in Nigeria with $78m

The United Kingdom says it is currently supporting initiatives
to increase economic opportunities for marginalised youth in
northern Nigeria with development funding worth nearly 50
million dollars (N15 billion).
Mr James Roscoe, the UK Ambassador on General Assembly
Matters to the United Nations, stated this at a UN Security
Council meeting on peace and security in West Africa, in New
York on Monday.
Roscoe said the UK was providing additional 28 million dollars
(N8.5 billion) in funding for projects to “reduce young people’s
vulnerability to recruitment by violent extremist groups” in
Borno.
The gestures, according to him, are part of the UK’s
contributions, working with its partners in West Africa, to
support domestic efforts at preventing extremism and
intercommunal violence in the region.
Earlier at a briefing, Mohamed Chambas, Special
Representative and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and
the Sahel (UNOWAS), said the region had been “shaken by
unprecedented violence” in recent months.
Chambas said “relentless attacks on civilian and military
targets have shaken public confidence”, citing last week’s
attack by militants on a military base in western Niger that left
71 soldiers dead.
He blamed the situation partly on poor management of
national resources, inequalities and marginalisation, corruption
and the failure of governments in the region to provide
security and justice.
The special envoy, however, noted that “recipes against
violent extremism” were being put in place in many West
African countries.
Specifically, chambas said that some grassroots initiatives,
such as inter-faith coalitions in Nigeria, were in place to curtail
recruitments by Boko Haram.
He added that grassroots reconciliation initiatives were being
evaluated across the region for bilateral assistance at the
country level.
The security council, he said, could play a decisive role in
accompanying such efforts and more.
He reminded the council that, in addition to donor and
technical support, assistance on security-related and law
enforcement matters remains vital.
“Curbing the financial and supply corridors used by armed
groups, and the links with illegal trade requires international
cooperation.
“Targeted sanctions and other measures recommended by
panels of experts, are relevant for leverage,” Chambas
recommended.
In separate remarks, council members stressed the need for
efforts to be focused on tackling the underlying causes of
violent extremism and intercommunal conflicts in the region.