Chidinma Iroegbu
Key actors in Nigeria’s peace and security space on Wednesday renewed calls for the domestication of the country’s Policy Framework and National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PF-NAP), stressing the need for immediate action at the state level.
The position was reached at a virtual consultative meeting convened by PCVE-KIRH in collaboration with SPRING and UK International Development (FCDO), with support from Nextier, the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
The session, held via Zoom, brought together about 63 participants, including PCVE focal persons, government officials, civil society organisations and members of state technical working groups.
Chairman of PAVE Network, Jaye Gaskia, said translating national policy into state-specific strategies was critical to tackling insecurity, noting that implementation must reflect local realities. “What we have is a national framework, but states must take ownership through adaptation and execution,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the NCTC, Iye Mangset said the centre was encouraged by ongoing efforts and urged stakeholders to sustain momentum in implementing the revised policy framework first introduced in 2017 and updated recently.
Also, Yetunde Adegoke of GCERF highlighted the importance of continuity, stating that progress made in the last one year should not be lost, while Ndubisi Nwokolo of Nextier called for a shift towards preventive and development-driven responses to violent extremism.
Reports from states in the North-West, including Bashir Ruwangodiya (Katsina), Eric John (Kaduna), Halima Suleiman (Kano) and Fahad Labbo Isah (Kebbi), indicated that technical structures have been set up and planning processes are underway.
Despite these gains, participants identified major setbacks such as poor alignment between federal and state institutions, slow administrative processes and limited awareness among key government actors. Ruwangodiya noted that “engagement between national and state actors remains weak.”
Dr. Amhad Suraj from Sokoto State said delays in approvals from government officials continue to hinder implementation, adding that stronger collaboration with national authorities could ease access and support for local initiatives.
Further contributions from Mansur Umar Kurugu and Plangnan of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency underscored the role of grassroots engagement, youth inclusion and early response systems in preventing the spread of extremist activities.
The meeting concluded with stakeholders urging increased political commitment, improved coordination frameworks and dedicated funding, stressing that a unified national and sub-national approach remains essential to addressing violent extremism across Nigeria.