FG, EU chart new path for peace, stability in Northern Nigeria

The Federal Government and the European Union have called for a comprehensive “whole-of-society” strategy to tackle the persistent insecurity confronting Northern Nigeria, stressing that military operations alone cannot deliver lasting peace.

The call was made on Monday during a high-level seminar hosted by Bayero University, Kano (BUK), where ambassadors from the European Union and eight member states began a two-and-a-half-day official visit to Kano State aimed at strengthening development and security partnerships.

The seminar, which focused on “Situation Analysis and Key Drivers of Conflict in Northern Nigeria and a Whole-of-Society Approach to Addressing Conflict,” brought together government officials, security experts, academics, development partners and civil society organisations.

Speaking at the event, Gautier Mignot, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, described Kano as one of Nigeria’s most strategic development hubs and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting education, peacebuilding and sustainable development across the country.

He said the EU delegation deliberately chose Kano for its annual retreat because of the city’s importance to Nigeria’s economic and educational landscape, adding that higher education and youth empowerment remain top priorities for the European Union.

Mignot explained that insecurity in Northern Nigeria requires coordinated efforts involving governments, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, academic institutions and international partners, rather than relying solely on military solutions.

He disclosed that the European Union has significantly expanded its support to Northern Nigeria through investments in education, digital infrastructure, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, health, transport and peacebuilding initiatives.

According to him, the EU remains Nigeria’s largest trading partner, accounting for 31 per cent of the country’s trade, while also providing about one-third of all foreign direct investments in Nigeria.

He further revealed that under the EU Global Gateway strategy, Nigeria is benefiting from €730 million in grants and €1.5 billion in development financing between 2021 and 2027, with increasing attention now being directed towards Northwestern Nigeria.

The ambassador also highlighted educational opportunities available to Nigerian students through the Erasmus Plus scholarship programme and other research collaborations, expressing optimism that Bayero University would benefit from future partnerships.

Representing Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Musa Shanono, stressed that violence and conflict had inflicted enormous social and economic costs on Northern Nigeria.

He noted that peace could only be sustained through collaboration among traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youth groups, academic institutions, governments and development partners.

According to him, universities have a critical responsibility to generate research that will help policymakers move from reactive responses to preventive strategies capable of addressing the root causes of insecurity.

Shanono urged participants to ensure that the dialogue produces practical solutions capable of improving the lives of communities across the region rather than ending with mere declarations.

Also speaking on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Director of State Liaison in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Lami Chinade, said Nigeria’s security architecture is increasingly embracing non-kinetic approaches alongside military operations.

He acknowledged the sacrifices made by security forces but maintained that military action alone cannot eliminate violent extremism if the social and economic factors driving recruitment remain unresolved.

He identified poverty, unemployment, lack of education, weak social cohesion and limited opportunities for young people as conditions that extremist groups continue to exploit across Northern Nigeria.

According to him, sustainable peace depends on prevention, inclusion, dialogue, resilience-building and stronger community participation, noting that security must become a shared societal responsibility rather than the exclusive duty of government institutions.

Chinade disclosed that the Office of the National Security Adviser is developing a National Peace Framework aimed at institutionalising community-centred peacebuilding and strengthening collaboration among government agencies, local communities and international partners.

Earlier, Sagir Adamu Abbas, the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, welcomed the European delegation and described the seminar as timely, noting that the university remains committed to providing research, data and community linkages that can support evidence-based interventions to address insecurity and promote sustainable development across Northern Nigeria.

He said the engagement demonstrates the growing partnership between Bayero University and the European Union in advancing peace, human security and regional development through research and collaborative action.