CONFLICT BRIEFING NOTES

Transcription

1 CONFLICT BRIEFING NOTES CONFLICT BRIEFING NO. 41, October 2016 KEY MESSAGES PAGE 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 2. NATIONAL CONTEXT ANALYSIS 2 POLITICAL 3 SOCIAL 6 ECONOMIC 8 3. IMPLICATIONS FOR PROGRAMMING IN NSRP TARGET STATES 9 *Disclaimer: The contents of this briefing note do not necessarily reflect the views of DFID or the UK Government. ** All reports are based on anonymous NSRP sources.

2 Executive Summary In the month of October, local government election preparation has begun in Borno State with the inauguration of caretaker committee chairmen. This is important because Borno state local government councils have not experienced elections for almost a decade. The governor has continued to close internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri and has stated that all will be closed by May Relative peace and evident weakening of Jama'atul ahl al-sunnah li da'awati wal jihad (JAS) activities were witnessed in Yobe State. But UNICEF states that as many as 75,000 children in Nigeria could die from hunger over the next year in Borno as well as Adamawa and Yobe if more assistance doesn't arrive soon. Estimates that more than three million people are affected by what is becoming one of the world's largest humanitarian disasters. The month of October witnessed challenging conflicts between Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and Nigeria government representatives during the Ashura festival in Yobe, Kano, Plateau and Kaduna States. This conflict manifests in different ways in each context; however, the rights of religious practice and legislation of the state appear to be in conflict between IMN members and the Nigerian Army and Police. In Plateau State, the ruling party gained the majority control of the House of Assembly and its principal officers with the decamping of Honourable Yusuf Gagdi, the Deputy Speaker and one other member from the Southern Senatorial District. On the other hand, two former Governors, Senator Jonah Jang and Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun are striving to reconcile aggrieved members of the PDP. The conflict situation in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States did not improve in the month of October. Although politics related conflicts did not witness any increase, the social and economic contexts recorded increasing incidents. Armed robbery and burglary is on the increase, just as sea piracy in the Twon, Akassa (Nembe Local Government) and Koluama (the Southern Ijaw Local Government) axis which reduced in October has become rampant again. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) intervened and moderated the rising tension. Criminal violence continues in Warri as well. However, the timely intervention of security agents quelled potential violence between Ogbe-Ijoh and Agbassa communities' youths over the ownership of the land where the market called Ogbe-Ijoh market is located. Hostilities may be abating between the Federal Government and Niger Delta militants, as the government has agreed to a roundtable negotiation with stakeholders comprising elders, leaders and militants' representatives in the region. However, some militants especially the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) are suspected of not wanting to give peace a chance as they have continued with the bombing of NPDC oil delivery lines onshore after the announcement. Despite the opportunity for dialogue, Operation Crocodile Smile continues. National Context Release of Twenty-One Chibok Schoolgirls Provides Hope for Girls in Northeast Twenty-one of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Jama'atul ahl al-sunnah li da'awati wal jihad (JAS) in 2014 have been released. The extremist militant group kidnapped nearly 300 female students from a secondary school in Chibok on April 14, 2014, provoking international outrage. More than 50 managed to escape on the day they were captured. Since then, there has only been one confirmed release since then. APC Stakeholders Grumble over Buhari's Appointments The governors of APC controlled states have complained about the recent ambassadorial appointments made by President Muhammadu Buhari. One of the governors, Simon Lalong, faulted the decision of the president to come up with the list and send it to the Senate without adequate consultation. He said consultations across board would have ensured fairness, citing an example of his state where the two nominees came from the same zone. One of the nominees from Plateau, a former deputy governor of the state, Pauline Tallen, rejected the offer citing concerns about her ailing husband and lack of consultation with the governor. Mr. Lalong, however, said beyond the issue of her sick husband is also a political consideration. 2

3 DSS Arrest Judges in Sting Operation During the month, the DSS executed an overnight raid on the residences of senior judges across the country, allegedly recovering huge cash and documents linking the judges to exotic properties and suspected corrupt practices. The reason for the raids is not immediately clear, but sources said the operatives stormed the residences in search of evidences linking the judges to corruption. The judges were however not arrested. The operation was carried out simultaneously in Abuja, Sokoto, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu and Gombe. Geopolitical zonal analysis (North East, North West, Middle Belt and Niger Delta) Political Local Government Elections Signify Hope Among the Population Preparations of local government election to be held in early 2017 in Borno have begun in October with Governor Kashim Shettima inaugurating caretaker committee chairmen for the LGAs. This is a major political shift in the state, as Borno State has not held a local government election in over a decade. Despite the assertion made by the Kano state governor in August 2016 that elections in LGAs would be conducted in February 2017, there are concerns among community members regarding the sincerity of the state government to facilitate the elections as promised. The state government has not proposed a supplementary budget that would kick start the preparations for the elections. Therefore, with the 2017 budget defence is occurring, it is predicted that unless the funds for the 2017 LGA elections are represented in the budget, they may not occur according to the stated plan. A group under the aegis of a Coalition for the Defence of Democracy has called on the state government to conduct election into the 17 Local Government Councils in Plateau State. The group added their voice to the lamentation over the absence of democratically elected government at the grassroots. They also called for the immediate sacking of the Interim Management Committees in all the LGAs and conduct election that will give people a choice in determining who govern them. The six-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry probing the two-term tenure of Senator Jonah Jang commenced public hearing after the closing date for the submission of memos from interested members of th the public on 16 September The Commission's Chairman disclosed at the inaugural public hearing sitting that the commission received 105 memos. He stated that the commission is a fact finding one with the mandate of making recommendations to the government as appropriate. The commission has three months to complete its work and submit its' report from the date of its inauguration. Conflicts Among Local Political Leaders Exacerbates Tensions Conflict between the Governor Ganduje and Senator Kwankwaso continued unabated in the month of October. A report was released by a fact finding committee set up and sent to the state by the APC national secretariat to investigate alleged antiparty activities perpetrated by the incumbent state party chairman Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, who was disowned by the incumbent governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. It was reported that the committee recommended to the National Headquarters of the party to fire Mr Doguwa. After series of controversies, it was reported that the national secretariat of APC sacked Doguwa and appointed Mr Abdullahi Abbas, a strong loyalist to Governor Ganduje, as the new state Chairman of the party. This has seriously destabilised the state politics, especially the intra-party discussions and debate which made the state politically very chaotic. The newly appointed chairman has been receiving supporters and well-wishers from across the 44 local government of the state. Many local government chairmen made congratulatory visits to the new chairman. Also, in October, the Kano state APC, under the leadership of Mr. Abbas, allegedly suspended two key political actors in the state, former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Rabiu Suleman Bichi and Architect Aminu Dabo. The two actors were allegedly strong loyalists of Senator Kwankwaso. They were relieved of their positions as party's elders and suspended from the party. The decision was taken by the party leaders of their respective local government chapters. It was reported that they were suspended for anti-party activities; however, to many people in the state, their suspensions were viewed as being unconnected to their strong link to the former governor Kwankwaso. 3

4 Meanwhile, two former Governors have realigned their political interest in a bid to reposition the PDP to win the Governorship and other elective offices in 2019 general election. The former Governors Senator Jonah David Jang and Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun are spearheading the reconciliatory process for getting aggrieved party stalwart to return back to the party. It is too early to understand the outcome of their efforts; however, some key members of the party are decamping to APC to access the ruling party's control of the sharing of the state resources at both the Federal and the State levels. Tension Mounts between IMN and Nigerian Authorities Across Several States Previous months indicated that the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) would be relocating its headquarters to Yobe State, yet IMN has not taken up residence in Yobe state in the month of October. Furthermore, there was no open rally by members of the group during the Ashura festival in the state. However, there were attacks and counter-attacks between the supporters of IMN and people who are not in the support of their activities on social media. Security sources and community leaders confirmed that they are in discussions with the leadership of the IMN in the state, and while the state government has been engaging with IMN, they have continued to allow their activities. Some sources assert that this is tactful because an open ban at this stage could make the members of IMN in the state who are in significant numbers confirm their fear that there are deliberate plans to make them feel outside the socio-ecological framework of the state. Members of IMN in the state are emphasizing that the attack on their members in some states of the country indicate vulnerability to victimization. Kano state also witnessed religious crises between members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and some groups of unknown youths. It has been a tradition of the religious sect that the 10th of every month of Almuharram (i.e. the first month in Islamic Calendar), the sect conduct processions in most of the cities within and outside Nigeria. Before this year's event, the Kano state government announced the banning of such procession in the state, but the sect continued with their processions, which was met with violence, and required intervention of security personnel. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) popularly suffered a major setback in Plateau State as a result of th th their troubled Ashura procession and its aftermath on Tuesday and Wednesday i.e. 11 and 12 October On Tuesday, the processing was forcefully dispersed around Mallachin Jumma'a Street by the Operation Safe Haven men at their post close to the central Mosque junction. On Wednesday morning, the members of the movement in their procession were drilled at the Zololo Junction on Bauchi road. It was also alleged that some road users who wore black coloured dress were also molested along with the group by the men of Operation Safe Haven. It was also reported that 45 members of the group were arrested and handed over to the Plateau State Police Command for prosecution. The rumoured plan of the group to temporarily relocates their headquarters to Jos to cushion off the constant confrontation with the military in Kaduna State was dashed as a result of the ban on the group (Islamic Movement in Nigeria)'s activities in the State. The Government based its reason for the banning of the activities of the group on security reason in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Rufus Bature. In Jos, the IMN came under attack by youth in the Angwan Rogo area of Jos North LGA on Wednesday 12th September The group's School and worship centre popularly called Markas was demolished and their members were physically assaulted, which resulted in the death of at least three of their members. The youth in the area took advantage of the wide spread condemnation of the group to ventilate their anger for the indoctrination of innocent youth in the area into their movement through monetary inducement. Early in the month of October, the Kaduna State Government issued an Order that declared the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) of the Shiite sect as an unlawful society. As a result of the deliberation and approval of the State Executive Council meeting of 6 October 2016, the State Government has allegedly made this declaration to preserve peace and security in the State. The Order banning the IMN was signed by the Governor and draws its sources of powers vested from Section 45 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Kaduna State law. Section 45 (1) of the Constitution vest in the Governor the powers to take such measures and actions as are necessary for the promotion and protection of public safety, public Order, Public morality, or Public health or the rights and freedom of all persons in Kaduna 4

5 State. The penal codes and laws of Kaduna State also empowers the Governor to declare as an unlawful society any organisation whose activities are dangerous to the security and good governance of the State. The government clarifies that it is not banning the IMN based on its status as a religious organization, but due to its allegedly unlawful activities which allegedly threatened public peace. Allegations of Inequalities in the Education and Employment Sector Continue in Niger Delta The Bayelsa State government kept its part of the terms of the memorandum of understanding between the state government and the Niger Delta University (NDU) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), by paying another one month salary. This has sustained peace and stability in campus. However, the ethno-political grievances that were reactivated by the government's decision to cite the new African International University in the Governors home town (as reported in September) have not been attended to. The government also paid secondary school teachers two half months' salary following negotiations with the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS). The strike by the teachers has been suspended, although it has polarised the two unions. NUT has accused ASUSS of being compromised by the state government while ASUSS has accused NUT of betrayal and politicization of the strike. The antagonism between the two unions has the risk of teachers turning against each other. The decision by the state government to privatise all state owned media organizations (Bayelsa Radio, Niger Delta Television, and Bayelsa State Newspaper Corporation) and termination of the appointments of teaching and non-teaching staff of the Local Educational Authority who were employed from 2008 still remains a threat to the stability of the polity. The intra-community tension and instability which followed the December 2015 and January 2016 Governorship elections have continued to raise feelings of insecurity in Peremabiri (in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area), Nembe Basambiri, and Oluasiri (in Nembe Local Government Area) of the state. Niger Delta Dialogue Brings Hope for Resolution President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to negotiate with the stakeholders of the Niger Delta for possible permanent solutions. The stakeholders include elders and political leaders as well as persons nominated by some of the militants groups. According to respondents, considering the huge economic waste and social malaise that has been the story of the Niger Delta, the government should evolve a flexible and practicable blueprint of rehabilitation of the militants, reclamation of the environment and visible development of the region that will touch the lives of everyone in the region and give a sense of belonging. Despite government's announcement to address the Niger Delta's security challenges through dialogue, the destruction of oil facilities has continued. A source reported that members of the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) have destroyed the NPDC and Shoreline major oil delivery lines to the Ughelli Quality Control Centre (UQCC). The lines are located at Oviri-Ogor and Iwhremaro communities in Ughelli North LGA. According to media reports, one General Aldo Agbalaja who claims to be the group's spokesperson has said that the attack on the Oviri-Ogor and Iwhremaro lines was the launch of their operation 'Humurabi Code'. Humanitarian Support Governor Shettima upheld his commitment to closing IDP camps in Maiduguri in the month of October. While some IDP camps remain, many camps have been closed and individuals have been sent back to their home LGA. The governor has said that all IDP camps in Maiduguri will be closed by May The recent visit of the governor to Bama on 21st September 2016 has given the resident of Bama more hope to IDPs, security agencies, CJTF and community as a whole resident in Bama local government. However, there was a recent protest by IDPs from Bama in Maiduguri with regards to relocating back home, where reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement is not completed. A Borno State House of Representatives committee is investigating alleged diversion of funds and materials meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Specifically, there is an allegation that 270million Naira was used to clear grass by the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF). The committee particularly decried the failure of Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir 5

6 Lawal to honor summon to him to appear and clarify some issues on the allegation. The Committee on IDPs and the North-East Initiatives, mandated by the house to investigate the allegation had invited Lawal to explain how his office spent about N12 billion allocated for the IDPs' challenges. UNICEF has warned that as many as 75,000 children could die in Borno and two adjacent states over the next year unless more assistance arrives. More than 3 million people are affected by what is becoming one of the world's largest humanitarian disasters. However, while the needs are clear, it has been incredibly difficult for groups to raise funds for food or health care for these victims, who have fled Jama'atul ahl alsunnah li da'awati wal jihad (JAS) or are trapped in towns still threatened by the group. UNICEF, for example, has raised only $28 million of the requested $115 million. Social Violence and VAWG Cases Continue Across Several States Rape of under-aged children cases continued in the month of October in states like Yobe and Kano. Cases of domestic violence against women and the girl child were also reported in the month. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are worried that most of the rape cases attended to in the month were from Potiskum area, which is where a number of displaced persons are currently located in the state. While the CSOs welcomed the establishment of a referral centre in the state capital, they are underscoring the need for more sensitization and enlightenment on the ills of rape and defilement as well as the means for seeking redress and by extension prosecution of those that commit the acts. Youths in Potiskum are threatening to personally deal with any suspect who is set free on the guise of lack of evidence. These extra judicial processes can generate reprisal attacks from the supporters of the suspect who might have been discharged and acquitted as a result of lack of evidence or inability of the families of the victim to continue with the case for the mere reason of shielding their wards from stigmatization. In Kano, many cases of sexual violence and murder of girls under the age of 10 years old were recorded and referred various courts in the state. For example, a case of a man who allegedly raped a six year old girl and killed her and deposited the corpse in a drainage is currently being reviewed. Observations made on the matter have it that in rural areas where the cases are rampant, many families of the victims do not report the case to authority--be it traditional rulers or the police. Some of the reasons given include fear of being stigmatised and lack of money to undergo court proceedings. In the month of October, cases of kidnapping continued. Within the metropolitan city of Kano, a number of cases of kidnaping of innocent individuals were reported in some local government areas in Kano south near Falgore Forest in Doguwa local government. The Kano state house of assembly has started deliberation for a bill that will stipulate capital punishment for kidnappers in the state. The bill has scaled through the second reading and has been referred to appropriate communities for further legislative actions. Dialogue and Discussions Signify Promise, but Challenges Remain A Peace Accord was signed on Tuesday October 25, 2016 by leaders of twenty-nine (29) ethnic groups in the communal violence prone communities of the five local government areas in the Southern District of Kaduna State. The peace accord tagged Kafanchan Peace declaration was a major event that came up a week after the recent violent flare that left scores of people dead in the district. The peace accord was brokered by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, a civil society organisation that is based in Jos, Plateau State and Nairobi, Kenya. The Community-driven inter-communal dialogue signed by the twenty-nine (29) ethnic groups is aimed at jointly finding lasting solutions to issues of common concern to all. The dialogue involved all levels of the civil society and it sought the support of key stakeholders (Federal, State and Local Government, the business community, traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, women and young people). Ex-militants under the Amnesty Programme (AP) protesting against the nonpayment of three months arrears of stipends on 11 October 2016 clashed with the Operation Delta Safe (ODS). It was alleged that the ODS laid ambush for the ex-militants who were converging at about 5:00am along the Mbiama Yenagoa junction, allegedly thrashed them with horse whips and shot sporadically to 6

7 disperse them. The ODS has denied this; however, they have admitted that there was a clash. Such protests occur often with the last protest occurred in June 2016 and during the incident women were raped while several persons lost money and mobile handsets to the ex-militants. On 8 October 2016, the IYC led by its president protested against alleged molestation of Patience Jonathan by the EFCC and the Buhari government. The protest disrupted traffic flow at Sani Abacha road for hours. Violent Crime Continue throughout the regions Armed robbery and burglary is on the increase in the month of October. Notorious areas/spots include Obele street (burglary/robbery), Harbour road and INEC road junction (day light robbery) Akenfa and Agudama (burglary), Swali (burglary/robbery), Biogbolo and Yenizuegene (breakage into vehicles and stealing of car battery and compact disc) all in Bayelsa state. Daylight robbery using commercial tricycles (keke) has become very common. Tricycles are now used as avenues for pick pocketing, tracking and snatching of money from persons (particularly persons coming from bank and women who leave home early for weekly markets). An emerging trend is the stealing of food items (including cooked food) and beverages. Sources attribute this to the fact that receivers of stolen goods are reluctant to buy due to glut in their business caused by the economic recession and improved use of technology by the Police and DSS to track stolen items; particularly mobile handsets. In the week 3-10 October, thieves attacked the Federal University Otuoke (FUO) at different times and carted away electronics (Flat Screen TV Sets, laptops, ipad, and fridges. Offices affected include Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS), ICT Unit, and Security Unit. No arrests have made. However, the vigilante of Otuoke community arrested a gang of thieves who specialise in the theft of car batteries; 47 car batteries were recovered from them. Sea piracy in the Twon and Akassa axis which reduced in September has become rampant again. This is also true of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (SILGA) axis where increased sea pirates attacks were reported in Koluama. During the weekend of September 2016, a cult group in Kpansia attacked a rival group in Amarata and killed one person. The Amarata group responded with a reprisal attack resulting in machete cuts on several persons. It was alleged that the Police responded with mass arrests of youths who negotiated and paid for their freedom. A young man was caught stealing handset and was beaten to death by youths of Korokorosei community (home town of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly). There is tension but the military has taken over the community. Sources indicate that there is fear of reprisal attack on Ikebiri by Korokorosei youths. A policeman attached to a politician as ADC was shot dead in an attack suspected to be targeted at the politician. Also, Okoroma clan youth elections on 8 October 2016 raised tensions on suspicion of interference and plans by a politician to impose a candidate. The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) intervened and moderated the rising tension. Youths attacked the camp site of AG Vision, a construction company working for the NDDC and constructing a road to link Oruma (in Bayelsa State) and Odual (in Rivers State) communities. The attack arose over grievances relating to perceived maltreatment of Oruma indigene, a staff of the company by a Supervisor from Odual. This incensed the youths who were already angry over the maltreatment of their kinsman. Some women in Ughelli have protested against speculative arrest and harassment of their children. A source reported that the women in their hundreds blocked the Warri- Port-Harcourt express way in a peaceful demonstration. The source further reported that in late September, the police officer in charge of the State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Ughelli Command was abducted and up till the time of the demonstration not a word had been heard from the officer or his abductors. This act of abduction had pushed the police into a massive arrest of many young men. The attendant torture of the suspects and financial implications of their bail condition had prompted the women into the demonstration. Don Wani, the executioner (head) of the Icelander cult gang in charge of the entire Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) has accepted the Rivers State Government Amnesty Programme and surrender catches of arms in Omoku, ONELGA capital. Members of the Deewell, Icelander's traditional ally also did, but later other groups reluctantly surrendered some small arms. ONELGA which has been rocked by internecine inter and intra cult gang battle for supremacy and territory control, which had led to several deaths, destructions, displacement and affected businesses, is the focus the state amnesty programme, a member of the committee has told to our analyst. Rivers State Governor Nyesome Wike has threatened that after that after the amnesty period any armed group still in possession of illegal arms will be fished out and punished according to the law. 7

8 Economic Non-Payment of Salaries Continue to Create Conflict The non-payment of workers' salary by the Borno state government continues since it July This issue has generated a lot of complaints as workers could not receive salary for a period of two months. This has fuelled the increase in prices of food items over the last three months which further aggravates hardship in the state. However, in the month, the increased security on the main roads have led to the opening of the Maiduguri Baga road. This has led to increased economic opportunities including fishing activities in Baga and has increased trading and commercial activities along Baga Maiduguri road. The economic situation in Yobe State in the month of October continues to deteriorate. The primary school teachers and LGA workers in some of the LGAs are still owed salaries. The purchasing power of Yobe State public service workers in the state is weak as the wages they earned had remained fixed without annual increments. It is evident that there are no significant reduction in the prices of foodstuff and other essential commodities. This is despite the improvement of harvest witnessed in the state this year. The prices of livestock have also increased. This is associated with the dwindling value of the Naira in comparison with the CFA used in Niger Republic where some of the livestock are purchased. The major economic factors that trigger conflict in Kano state remained the issues of state salary reduction of health workers, the closure of many companies and shops due to non-payment of taxes, and sacking and arrest of Kano state High court judge. This is related to previous actions in the state in which the Kano state government took a decision to reduce the salary of some health workers. This has generated a lot of tension especially within the state health sector. The union of teachers in Plateau State has revealed that public primary school teachers are yet to be included on the payment of the national minimum wage of 18,000 Naira since its approval six years ago. The Chairman of the union in the state, Mr Yarlings Gunshin, asserted that, the secondary school teachers and other state civil servants are being paid the minimum wage since the state began the implementation of the structure six years ago. Regrettably, their members in the primary schools are left out of the payment structure despite the inflationary rate in the country. The economic hardship resulting from the economic recession and non-payment of salaries by the Bayelsa State government is forcing urban-rural migration and out of Bayelsa migration by non-indigenes. Several shops and rooms/flats are empty. The urban-rural migration raises concern as the declining productivity of the rural economies could worsen socio-economic scarcity and pressures that may create conditions for violence. The Master bakers association of the state embarked on strike from October , over increasing costs of inputs such as flour, yeast preservatives and sugar. The price of bread has gone up and increased the feeding cost of families. Economic Opportunities Discussions Held in Middle Belt th th The Plateau State Chamber of Commerce staged the 2016 Plateau Trade Fair between 18 and 29 of October 2016 after some years of recess due to insecurity and uncertainty of gaining confidence of participants from within and outside the state. The trade fair which was well attended attracted over 300 exhibitors and 70,000 visitors as well from the 17 Local Government Councils and several States across the Federation. The successful hosting of the trade fair signifies an improvement in the security situation in the State and the gradual recognition of the return of peaceful co-existence by people within and outside the state. The initial 'no go areas' due to security threat of possible silent killings along religious and ethnic divides has significantly reduced to possible incidental or isolated criminal activities. The Kaduna State government has earmarked sum over =N= 4 Billion Naira for the Kaduna metropolitan Rapid Rail Transport Project, which is set to begin in The amount is a part of the Billion Naira set aside for projects under the State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport. It is hoped that all of these projects would rejuvenate the local economy in the State. Similarly, the Kaduna State government is also to use 2.55 Billion Naira on drones and surveillance equipment, such as CCTV cameras. 8

9 This equipment is meant for the provision of adequate security cover in the State in Out of the total amount targeted, more than1.5 Billion Naira is earmarked for the procurement and installation of CCTV cameras in strategic areas. In addition, the Kaduna State Government has earmarked 3.12 Billion Naira for various electricity projects in the state in the 2017 fiscal and financial year. The project would be coordinated by the State Power Supply Company. This capital expenditure is also meant to rejuvenate and fire the local economy of the state. Lastly, the Kaduna State Governor Mal. Nasir El- Rufai has presented the draft 2017 annual budget to the State House of Assembly. The Budget size which is set at 215 Billion Naira in view of the tough economic times that has led to recession hence the need to have an expansionary budget to drive recovery and end the recession. Implications and Recommendations for Programmes in the Northeast For programmes operating in Borno State, it is important support governance initiatives such as the holding of local government elections in early 2017, as these efforts to restore governance structures can facilitate peaceful resolution of conflicts around lack of political representation. Therefore, it is recommended that all programmes working on governance in the state support the pre-election processes and hold the state government accountable for its promise to hold the elections in early For programmes working on social service support to survivors of violence in the Northeast, the growing needs of individuals continued this month suggests that the situation remains dire. It is recommended that organizations and state governments should consider a more robust community based approach where survivors are made part of the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts instead of forcing or imposing plans on survivors. The continued improvement in the overt security situation in Yobe State requires continued; therefore, it is recommended that security sector programming in Yobe State works with state officials to ensure that security personnel are empowered to work in accordance with international human rights practices in the military action against JAS and seemingly cognate groups. Furthermore, security sector programming should consider empowering members of the local communities in voluntary policing, intelligence gathering and sharing. This will complement the activities of the formal security actors. For programmes working on governance and social engagement, it is important for further engagement on the conflict between community members, government forces and the IMN across several states in Nigeria. Therefore, it is recommended that programmes working on human rights and the security sector empower the state government and community leaders to continue to engage the leadership of IMN so as to have dialogue sessions that would ensure sustainable peaceful coexistence and mutual respect for the worth and dignity of one another. The State Conflict Management Alliance (SMCA) and the respective Community Peace Partnerships (CPPs) in Gashua, Damaturu and Potiskum LGAs should be supported to facilitate and consolidate the dialogue. Implications and Recommendations for Programmes in Northwest (Kano) The month of October witnessed improved peace and security situation in Kano; however challenges remain with communal conflict and violence continuing to occur. Programmes working on peacebuilding, security and governance should continue to work with these units to support community-level activities that building trust between the citizens and the state, particularly around key conflict issues such as the more recent clashes with the IMN. Implications and Recommendations for Programmes in the Middle Belt (Plateau and Kaduna) The weakening of the PDP in the Plateau State House of Assembly may reduce the quality of opposition and scrutiny of policies and programmes in the State. The functional aspect of any opposition party that places on counters major issues of concern on behalf of the citizenry is gradually fading away from the critical arm of government with such responsibility. This also has the tendency to heighten peoples' distrust in political systems. It is therefore recommended that programmes in the area of governance such as Partnerships to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) and peacebuilding such as NSRP to look into the possibilities of promoting inclusive and coordinated information sharing among security agencies. The Plateau State Conflict Management Alliance convened by NSRP may well serve this purpose properly. The persist occurrence of armed robbery and killing of commercial tricycle riders is an indication of failure of the security's intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination. 9

10 This has the tendency to heighten peoples' distrust of the security agents' capacity to protect and the need to be armed for self-defence. Programmes working on security sector reform and governance programming as well as peacebuilding programmes should consider specialized platforms to foster dialogue between armed state representatives and community members on issues such as communal level conflict more often. The persistent re-occurrence of armed robbery within the vicinity of security posts and their established institution such as in the case between Mararaban Jama'a and the Police Staff College, Bukuru is an indication of failure of the security's intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination. This has the tendency to heighten peoples' distrust of the security agents' capacity to protect and the need to be armed for self-defence. It is therefore recommended that programmes in the area of governance such as Partnerships to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) and peacebuilding such as NSRP to look into the possibilities of promoting inclusive and coordinated information sharing among security agencies. The Plateau State Conflict Management Alliance convened by NSRP may well serve this purpose properly. The challenge of youth unemployment and criminality is a major source of concern as evident in their involvement in several reported cases of criminal kidnapping and armed robbery attacks. DFID programmes working on governance and security sector such as DDIN, J4A, and PERL may consider additional programming focused on youth. Implications and Recommendations for Programmes in the Niger Delta (Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta) There is the reappearance of the tense political atmosphere in the month of September with its dividing consequences on the population and communities. The period also witnessed an escalation of violent crimes and bloody cult gangs killings and reprisal killings. Therefore it is recommended that programmes working in governance and economic growth will need to consider ways in which social cohesion and peacebuilding efforts at the community level can be integrated into sector work to address these constant challenges to peace and security at the community level. The politics and community related conflicts, and government policies on the sacking of teaching and nonteaching staff in the local education authority (in all the eight local government councils) employed from 2008, which have continued to heat up the polity also raises concern for the overall peace and security. Therefore, programmes such as ESSPIN, TDP and NSRP should use the appropriate platforms and partners to interrogate, mediate and advocate for peace in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and National Orientation Agency. The level of socio-economic and political conflicts in the state presents challenges to peace and security. To mitigate these conflicts, programmes working on governance including citizen and state engagement such as PERL, Justice for All, NSRP should consider additional support to reduce conflict dynamics in Delta State. This will ensure that current latent conflicts are resolved before they escalate to violence. For economic growth programmes such as Facility for Oil Sector Transparency and Reform in Nigeria (FOSTER), the integration of greater community level dialogue and grievance resolution mechanisms in the short and long run would also contribute to mitigating or preventing conflict from becoming violent. For programmes such as Voices for Change (V4C) and NSRP working on building trust and addressing accountability and inclusion, additional support to Nigerian institutions such as NOA or security agencies such as the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps around the issue of sale and trafficking of persons would be advantageous to alleviate community-level concerns about the safety of themselves and their children in Delta State. 9