By Stellamaries Amuwa, Abuja
A coalition of about 70 Nigerian civil society organizations (CSOs) have condemned accusations made by an unnamed former Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the Nigerian Air Force, published in the Vanguard on January 16, 2025, that Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in the North-East, North-West, and North-Central regions of Nigeria are covertly funding and supporting terrorist groups.
The statement, issued by a broad coalition including organizations like Amnesty International Nigeria, BudgIT Foundation, and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), stresses the importance of civil society in countering violent extremism. They highlight that NGOs play a crucial role in addressing the root causes of terrorism by fostering community resilience and engaging with vulnerable populations, a strategy endorsed by international bodies like the United Nations.
NGOs argue that the claims are baseless and serve only to deflect attention from the real causes of terrorism in Nigeria, such as poverty, corruption, and systemic inefficiencies.
The statement, was widely criticized as inflammatory, suggests that NGOs play a role in sustaining the activities of Boko Haram and bandits in the country.
The groups emphasize that their work in the region is vital to counterterrorism efforts and that they have been instrumental in providing life-saving aid, healthcare, education, and psychosocial support to millions of displaced Nigerians.
The coalition also points out that NGOs operate under strict regulatory frameworks, including anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws enforced by Nigerian authorities.
They argue that targeting these organizations with unfounded accusations undermines the critical humanitarian work they perform in areas affected by insurgency.
In their response, the NGOs call on the Nigerian government and military to focus on addressing the structural issues that enable terrorism to thrive, such as corruption, poor border security, and ineffective defense spending. They urge the government to engage constructively with NGOs and support their efforts to bring peace and development to conflict-ridden communities.
The civil society organizations warn that such accusations, if left unchecked, could lead to further attacks on humanitarian workers, exacerbating the already dire situation in the country. They stress the need for a unified, cooperative approach to counterterrorism, one that recognizes the indispensable role of civil society in building peace and stability in Nigeria.
The full statement, which includes the signatures of numerous prominent Nigerian NGOs, calls for caution in making inflammatory claims that could endanger lives and distract from the ongoing fight against terrorism.
