The Kaduna State Government has expressed gratitude for the ongoing efforts to address violent extremism in the state.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, made this known on Monday in Kaduna when she received a delegation from the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that it operates under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
NAN also reports that the visit was for a briefing on the ‘Global Community Engagement and Resilient Fund (GCERF)’ interventions in the state.
She expressed appreciation to the centre and its partners’ efforts in combating violent extremism in the state.
The deputy governor also conveyed the gratitude of Gov. Uba Sani and the state government for the impactful work being done through various initiatives aimed at addressing the root causes of violent extremism in the satte.
Balarabe specifically acknowledged the the Global Community Engagement and Resilient Fund (GCERF), the Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) Network, ActionAid Nigeria and the SERVE III project consortium.
She said, “We are encouraged by the recent approval of a grant by GCERF to support the establishment of a Prevention and Countering of Violent Extremism (PCVE) Knowledge, Innovation, and Resources Hub through the PAVE Network.”
Balarabe acknowledged the immense toll that violent extremism had taken on the state, affecting lives, disrupting development, and fostering distrust among communities.
The deputy governor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to working with all the stakeholders to implement ‘State and Local Action Plans’ for preventing and countering violent extremism.
She emphasised the vital link between security and sustainable development, opining that both were interdependent and crucial for the state’s progress.
Earlier in her remarks,the Director of the Directorate of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism at NCTC-ONSA, Mairo Musa, briefed Balarabe on the partnership with GCERF.
She explained that the collaboration, which began in 2022, has already seen the implementation of several projects in the state by ActionAid Nigeria.
Musa said that the initiatives have been instrumental in addressing radicalisation and preventing violent extremism.
She underscored the importance of continued support from the the state government to sustain these efforts.
“The ongoing collaboration between NCTC-ONSA and the Kaduna State Government is crucial to enhancing the state’s capacity in preventing and countering violent extremism,” she said
Musa also explained on the need for strategic communication and engagement with communities.
ActionAid Nigeria, represented by Deputy Director of Programmes, Suwaiba Dankabo, expressed optimism that the secured grant would lead to positive outcomes in the state.
She reeled out the success of the SARVE III project, which has significantly strengthened community resilience against violent extremism across several local governments in the state.
She also reaffirmed both parties’ commitment to working together to build a safer and a more peaceful Kaduna State.(NAN
