By Tunde Omolehin
The Office of National Security Advisor (ONSA) in collaboration with Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) has carried out an advocacy visit to discuss with Sokoto State Government about mainstreaming of Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) into State Action Plan, security and development policies.
The project is supported by ActionAid Nigeria, through the System and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Radicalisation to Violence Extremism (SARVE III) with funding from Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF)
The Team was Led by the Director, Directorate of Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism, Counter Terrorism Center, Office of National Security Adviser, Ambassador, Maira Abbas.
During the media advocacy visit to the State Deputy Governor, Engr. Idris Muhammad Gobir, Abbas said NEYIF as a principal recipient of GCERF funds, has been implementing PCVE intervention programs in Sokoto State over the last few years.
He noted that NEYIF is a member organisation of the Partnership Against Violent Extremism [PAVE] Network, and is represented on the National Steering Committee of the Network
Abbas said the visit is aimed at projecting the positive impacts of PCVE Project interventions in the state, and facilitate discussion on the prospects of mainstreaming PCVE into the state’s peace, security, and development policies.
“This initiative aligns with the National PCVE Policy Framework and National Action Plan (PFNAP) 2017 and seeks to foster coordination and collaboration between government, civil society organizations (CSOs), community actors, and other non-state actors.”
According to him, the project is to build safer and more resilient communities towards mainstreaming of Preventing and Countering Violence Extremism (PCVE) into State Action Plan and the development of local Action Plans”.
The team also aimed to push for the establishment of a PCVE State Technical Working Group (TWG) that will comprise representatives of Government, representatives of Civil Society organisations from the State PAVE Network in Sokoto State, as well as other non-state actors in the state, including the Organised Private sector among others.
“It is a process towards the development of a state and local action plan which is a government (State led initiative) anchored and coordinated by ONSA in collaboration with the PAVE Network.
“By integrating PCVE into its framework, Sokoto State can effectively combat extremism, ensure the safety of its citizens, and promote a stable, prosperous environment conducive to growth and development.” Abbas further explained.
The ActionAid Nigeria, Communications Officer, Victory Idogho in a statement said the high-Level Advocacy Engagement, along with other strategic Stakeholders engagements are parts of the activities of the PAVE Network in the PCVE Scale Up Project, which is an extension of the ActionAid SARVE III Project.
“The PAVE Network State Chapter, will play a key role in the collaborative engagement with the state government and other non-state actors in the collective effort to address and tackle extremism in the Sokoto State.”
He further said the Advocacy Visit to the Sokoto Government would provide an avenue to advocate for the mainstreaming of PCVE and the development of PCVE State Action Plans/Local Action Plans [SAPs and LAPs].
Other members on the visit include, Jaye Gaskiya, Chairman, National Steering Committee on Partnership Against Violent Extremism, Comrade Dauda Muhammad Gombe, Executive Director North East Youth Initiative for Development, NEYIF and Aliyu Adamu, representative from ActionAid.
