The United states has issued a new bill into law to address the threat posed by Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.
According to Premium Times, an analysis of factors that have helped Boko Haram fester and recruit must come to grips with issues of poor socio-economic environment and access to justice in Nigeria’s north-east, the United States said.
The U.S. issued the position in a new law, S. 1632 – ‘An Act to require a regional strategy to address the threat posed by Boko Haram’ signed last week by outgoing American President.
Part of the US law reads: “It is the sense of the Congress that lack of economic opportunity and access to education, justice and other social services contribute to the ability of Boko Haram to radicalize and recruit individuals.”
- The law thus provides for plans to enhance the capacity of Nigeria’s Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) partner nations to investigate and prosecute human right abuses by security forces; promote respect for the rule of law within the military and prevent corruption.
- The U.S. law provides that the American government should, “pursuant to existing authorities and restrictions”, help improve the military capacity of Nigeria and partner nations, including Chad, Niger and Cameroon, to combat Boko Haram.
- It also provides that Nigeria should be helped in terms of “long-term capacity to enhance security for schools such that children are safer and girls seeking education are protected, and to combat gender-based violence and inequality.”
The strategies, the law provides, should form elements of a five-year plan to be submitted to U.S. Congress within 180 days by the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.
Then, the Director of the US National Intelligence should assess “the willingness and capacity” of Nigeria and regional partners to implement the plan and submit a report on the assessment to Congress, the law further provides.
Specifically, the law seeks assessment of Nigeria’s readiness to address socio-economic factors that help Boko Haram fester and “legitimate grievances” of populations affected by the group.
Although the law provides that the U.S. should militarily assist Nigeria and her regional partners, there is no specific provision to sell arms to Nigeria.
Also, it was stated that another development the United States has announced are plans to fight poverty in Nigeria through the provision of about 71.5 billion naira additional developmental assistance to support the five-year $2.3bn agreement signed with the federal government in 2015.
This report was made by the US ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, as report issued to newsmen on Tuesday, December 20.