Nigeria is beset by internal violent conflicts, and extremism, with considerable impact on itsvsustainable development, consolidation of democracy, viability of the state, and, indeed the corporate existence of the country. The challenge of managing ethno-religious diversity and prolonged militarized approach have left a legacy of unhealthy inter-group relations, and a culture of impunity. Incidents of ethnic and sectarian violence are on the increase as Nigeria is ranked 148 out of 163 countries in the 2019 Global Peace Index.1 Relationships between communities and state-based security providers are challenged by exacerbating VE attacks from terrorist acts in Nigeria’s northeast, to the protraction of violent inter-group conflicts in the north western geopolitical zone and between farming and herding communities in the north-central of Kogi, Benue and Plateau states including communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. The existence of violent conflicts and extremism in Nigeria; invariably make difficult the relationship between members of the communities and law enforcement agents in the course of operations and service delivery. To buttress this, it’s been argued that the increasing acts of VE have a direct causal effect on the deployment and active presence of law enforcement agents (LEAs) in order to preserve law and order in the overall interest of the security. This situation ultimately makes the communities overly militarized. This cannot be ignored because in the course of everyday interface between residents and the LEAs, new meanings and perceptions of liberty, rights and space are (re)created, affirmed, rejected and contested. Arguably, the militaristic approach has been largely successful in degrading the insurgent’s capacity to maintain control of any part of Nigeria’s territory, but so far, it has not put a stop to2 attacks against soft, civilian targets, and neither has the approach adequately addressed the complex factors that gave rise to the insurgency and VE in those parts of the country. Building on some of the key recommendations of UNDP PVE 2018/2019 survey in selected states to deepen the body of knowledge on PVE at grassroots level and a further mapping of critical stakeholders, and actors in five states (Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Plateau) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, one of the key outputs of the Preventing and Responding to Violent Extremism (PRVE) project focuses on the rule of law, access to Justice and security aim at enhancing community trust level and bonding to prevent and counter violent extremism. Broadly speaking, the PRVE project goals support national coordination, building community-based bonding, trust and confidence building activities amongst community security providers and stakeholders including community-based organizations, vulnerable groups and women groups in targeted states/communities to enhance community security and peaceful co-existence. These will further entail promotion, and enhancement of partnership, trust and bond between security providers and the community stakeholders in line with National Action Plan (NAP) for government at state level and identified at-risk communities of VE. It is based on the foregoing that the Governance, Peace & Security Unit of the UNDP seeks the services of experienced facilitator/moderator to conduct a one-day dialogue amongst stakeholders on preventing and responding to violent extremism and community policing from a PVE perspective.
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