Abstract:
At the down of this millennium, one of the
most critical elements in the governance of Nigeria is the current and over
increasing spate of insurgency which has essentially beclouded and weakened the
new states of Africa. Imperatively, it has seemingly characterized modern
states of Nigeria to the extent that sustainable development in the Nigeria is
questionable. Consequent upon Nigerian leaders efforts to tame the dreaded
ailment in the governance system, the fragility of Nigeria embedded in this
monster has increasingly heightened insurgency uprising. This paper aims at
interrogating the activities of the Non-Governmental Organizations on
insurgency in Kubwa, Abuja, Nigeria with particular attention on its effects on
the sustainable development of the country in relations to Peace building. An
examination of the origin, forms and dimensions of insurgency becomes
essential. This session is there, devoted to the discussion of the role of non-governmental organizations in
peace building. Content analysis, was adopted, using the secondary
sources of collecting data from books, journals and articles in correlation to
primary sources to understand the terrain of the scope of study. NGOs are an
aspect of civil society, without government representation, embarking in
conflict reduction, welfare scheme, empowerment and employment. Among the
recommendations are: government recognition and support of NGOs; NGOs increased
and effective performance and government/NGOs partnership in peace and conflict
issues.
CHAPTER
ONE
1.1.
INTRODUCTION
The prime value in contemporary Nigeria today
is peace. It is the most valuable public good, but yet the most elusive
(Francis David, 2006). The three (3) years of civil war and the recent
disturbances in various parts of the country, namely the Niger Delta regions of
the South-South, the Jos Bauchi Regions of Bauchi and Platue States and the
Ebonyi States of the SouthEast States are at different levels of intensity and
peace settlement. These have wrecked devastating effects on Nigeria in terms of
considerable loss of human life, human suffering, the destruction of
infrastructural facilities, the disruption of economic and agricultural
activities and the coming anarchy that threatens not only the Nigeria internal
peace and security but also internal peace in Africa and beyond. Alarmingly
most of these areas of conflict lack the political will to maintain past peace
agreements and have fallen prey to continuous armed clicks and ethnic conflict
(Monty Marshal, 2003). Peace has therefore become the most pressing challenge
faced by Africa at large and Nigeria in particular. This situation is partly
due to unwholesome merger of multi-ethnic people by the colonial masters and
partly as a result of ineffective conflict management. Despite some efforts by
the government, corporate bodies, civil society, national universities
commission etc to reduce situations of conflict in Nigeria, peace has continued
to elude Nigeria and consequently sustainable development.
Highest
on the list of prime value for Kubwa a town in Abuja state, Nigeria, is peace.
Peace is the most valuable public commodity, yet the most elusive (Francis
David, 2006). These four years (2009-2014) of Insurgency has brought loss of
lives and halted economic activities in various parts of Kubwa. The activities
of Boko-haram have brought devastating effects on Kubwa which has resulted in
loss of lives both human and livestock, suffering, destruction of
infrastructures and public/private facilities, disruption of
economic/socio-economic activities like agricultural, trade etc.
This situation has threatened not only the internal peace and security of Kubwa
but also the peace in Nigeria and beyond. So alarming is the fact that most of
these areas affected by insurgency lack the will to stop this social charade
and have fallen prey to continuous usury and subtle manipulation by politicians
who take advantage of this situation to involve in shady deals like kidnapping
and arm deals using insurgency as a cover (Chiedu, 2013). Peace building has
therefore become the most pressing challenge faced by Nigeria at large and Kubwa
in particular. This situation is so partly because of feudal system of
leadership which encourages total submission to authority without question
which carries with it, ineffective terror control means.
Despite
the effort of government through its institutions like the armed forces,
religious bodies, NGOs etc, to curb the excesses of insurgence in Kubwa, peace
has continued to elude her and sustainable development, stopped. On that
note, this project will seek to show the role of NGOs in peace building in Kubwa.
1.2.
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Although
insurgency is not easily defined, it may be said to be the use of force,
usually violent, as a means of coercing a target population to submit to the
will of the terrorists (Asika,4:2009). Insurgency is intended to elicit or maximize
fear and publicity, making no distinction as to combatants and non-combatants
in a conflict. There is no legally agreed upon definition of the term
‘Insurgency’, but a recent United Nations (UN) document describes it as any
‘act which is intended to cause death or serious bodily harm to civilians or non-combatants
with the purpose of intimidating a population or compelling a government or an
international organization to do or abstain from doing any act’. The word
‘Insurgency’ is both emotionally and politically laden, particularly as it
imports issues of national liberation and self-determination. Insurgency takes
many forms, including political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic,
religious and ecological issues. The taxonomy of Insurgency, including
precipitating motivations and considerations, is now a subject of intense
study. Whether the one as seen in Kubwa can be reduced to a type may be an
interesting subject, but for purposes of this work, the primary concern is the
threat of insurgency. Insurgency is one objective of organized terrorism, just
as terrorism is one of several strategies of insurgency. Both terrorism and
insurgency may be used by states in their internal operations. Terrorism and
terrorist tactics constitute part of the strategies and tactics of insurgency.
The operational tactics are essentially those of guerilla warfare. The object is
to intimidate, frustrate and raise the feeling of uncertainty, imminent danger
and the loss of hope, so as to cripple or limit all aspects of human activity
and normal livelihoods. Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, MEND and, lately, Jama’atu
Ahlissunnah Lidda’anati Wal Jihad, are currently international and local
Nigerian examples of terrorist networks. Until recently, Nigerian terrorist
activity was thought to be motivated by ethnocentric considerations. Currently,
there appears to be a pronounced religious content in the character of
insurgency in Kubwa, Abuja. A few of the earlier experiences merit examination
here, as a guide in estimating the character, trend and intensity of the
current campaign, as well as the role of NGOs in peace building in Kubwa, Abuja.
1.3. STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
Previous
research works on the role of NGOs in peace building in Insurgency affected
areas especially Kubwa shows that there is no government that can take on
single handily, the weight of peace building in form of aid. Among the various
actors that participate in these processes are the nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs), which fulfil a pivotal role in terms of establishing and
maintaining essential services like assisting refugees and internally displaced
populations and helping to strengthen societies.
NGOs
increasingly work “in the field,” providing humanitarian relief and
development assistance in post terror places like Kubwa, Abuja. As they carry
out their work, they face many serious problems. Insurgencies often deny them
access to those in need, terrorist groups demand payoffs, and local violence
threatens the safety and even the lives of field personnel. Donors also subject
these NGOs to political pressure, diminishing their neutrality. Nongovernmental
Organizations face a lot of challenges in the discharge of their duties often
caused by Insurgent activities. They are faced with the dilemma; should they
negotiate with terrorists to deliver aid, or should they maintain independence
and impartiality. Some Nigerian agencies like WACOL operate only through local
partners because they cannot negotiate with terrorist-affiliated groups. Red
Cross has resorted to having armed escorts and allow Movement for Peace in
Maiduguri (MFPIM) and Africa Awake to supervise the aid distribution. Although
impartiality is valuable for the long-term operation in Kubwa, humanitarian aid
agencies feel they are forced to compromise these principles in an effort to
gain aid access according Osueke (2006)
1.4.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
With
the spate at which insurgence has dealt a heavy blow on Kubwa, economically,
socially and otherwise, this research work will seek to highlight challenges of
insurgency. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), the role of NGOs in peace
building in Kubwa, Abuja and the way forward.
So as
to achieve the purpose of this research the following will be looked into:
- To assess the
role of NGOs in Peace Building. - To examine the
effectiveness of NGOs in the peace building in restive areas in the North. - To
identify the way forward for NGOs in the peace building campaign.
1.5.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
So as
to achieve the objectives stated above, the following research questions were
used as a guide in achieving the objectives of this research work:
- What are the
roles of NGOs in peace building? - How effective
have NGOs been in peace building in Kubwa, Abuja? - What is the way
forward for NGOs in the peace building
campaign?
1.6.
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
To
solve the problems mentioned in the research questions, the following hypothesis
are formulated:
Ho:
NGOs are not effective in the peace building campaign
H1:
NGOs are not effective in the peace building campaign
1.7.
SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
One of
the benefits of this research work is to researchers and academics. It will be
of tremendous help to governments and their agencies in tackling insurgency and
the challenges that comes with it.
The
findings and recommendations of the researcher will help bring to the fore the
role of Nongovernmental Organizations in peace building coupled with
limitations to their work.
It
will also be readily available for international organizations that may need
insight into what it is like for NGOs working in Abuja.
1.8.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This
research work focuses solely on the role of Nongovernmental Organization in
peace building in Kubwa, Abuja. It also touched the challenges of Insurgency
and how it affects the work of NGOs.
Based
on the findings of this study, another research area touched is Peace building.
1.9.
LIMITATIONS OF STUDY
This
research work was carried out under a tight schedule. The time frame was short
in between lectures and private studies. Another limitation faced by the
researcher was delay in data collection from the various respondents. Most
respondents were too busy to fill up the questionnaires due to their work
schedule. This almost delayed the work.
1.10.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Insurgency: An insurgency is a rebellion against a
constituted authority (for example, an authority recognized as such by the
United Nations) when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as
belligerents
Peace
Building:
Peace building is a process that facilitates the establishment of durable peace and
tries to prevent the recurrence of violence by addressing root causes and
effects of conflict through reconciliation, institution building,
and political as well as economic transformation.
NGO: Non-Governmental Organizations
ORGANIZATIONAL
PROFILE
The
KIEK foundation is a non- governmental organization established with the aim of
improving the lives of the less privileged children in our society through
quality education, healthcare, nutrition and child’s right governance. Since
its inception in 2018, the foundation has impacted positively on the lives of
over 5,000 disadvantaged children, orphaned, street kids, ill and the
physically challenged children and young adults in several towns and villages
across the country through its various outreaches and projects such as: from
street to class initiative, the One child One plate project, the Healthcare and
the Nutrition project, the One Child One Book project, the Orphanage project,
Rural area children and teens in ICT, THE Compassion Action Outreach and the
One Child One Gift Project among others.
Strategic
Objectives
1.
Action
for Quality Education
To
ensure that every child has access to quality education enabling them reach
their full potentials. Work with organisations to advocate accountable,
democratic and transparent governance with pro-poor policies and programmes
2.
Better
Health for OVC’s
To
ensure that Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) have access to basic
healthcare.
3.
Child
right Advocacy
To
advocate for and also help protect the rights of children in our society.
Impact
1.
Over
17,000 Children reached
2.
21
Successful Programs Implemented
3.
Advocacy
and Sensitization Walks
Our
Vision
To see
our society afford every child the opportunities to live a fulfilled life
Our
Mission
To
restore hope to the less privileged children by combating poverty through
quality education, healthcare and nutrition which enable them actualize their
potentials.
Our
Values
Action
Aid Nigeria lives by the following values of Action Aid and which has been
demonstrated through the accountability, learning and planning system (ALPS)
and this include; mutual respect, equity and justice, honesty and transparency,
solidarity with the poor, powerless and excluded, courage of conviction,
independence from any religious or political party affiliation and Humility in
presentation and behaviour.
Board
of Trustees
Ebele
Iyiegbu – Executive Director Nkechi Okolie – Admin Officer Emmanuel Eze Ifeanyi
Ukwa John Olugbemi