Nigerian NGOs: more pragmatic and less critical

One explanation why NGOs are presently less vocal in levelling criticism against the government could simply be that honeymoon period traditionally enjoyed by new heads of states. Although NGOs continue to take the government to task on what it should be doing in the short-term, they seem to be more focused on finding practical ways of dealing with current concerns.   

Chom Bagu, head of Search for Common Ground, an NGO set up in 2004, explains that the violence that has spread through the country since the end of the military regime in1999 is concentrated in two hot spots, the North, and especially the states of Kano and Kaduna, where it has a religious character, and the Niger Delta, stemming from the region’s demand for control of its own wealth. The organisation uses the media to promote "commonalities" - interests shared by the whole of the population. Since September 2010, the NGO has re-integrated into society young men from the Niger (3,000 to date) who were formerly recruited by armed groups.  

Maryam Idris Othman is chair of directors of the Federation of Muslim Women's Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), which is based in Abuja but groups associations from all of Nigeria’s states. Religion has a significant influence on political decisions as she explains, "Islam encompasses all aspects of life”. The director  goes on  to detail some of the group’s activities "As well as setting up education centres for adults, more than 200 Islamic schools, four hospitals and three orphanages for girls, FOMWAN is working to raise awareness  among Muslim women about democratic values and governance. The association tries to work for a better relationship between the two communities," she says. But she adds: "we are women, and we cannot be impartial when our husbands and children are killed. But after the crises, we provided both practical and psychological assistance throughout the country.” FOMWAN dialogues with a number of Catholic women’s associations on a regular basis. Maryam Idris Othman says she’s optimistic in the wake of the last elections, but believes that the new government must work quickly since, "time waits for no one.”

Early warning system

The Accra-based West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP) has focused on alerting civil society and the public to the unintended potential consequences of untoward declarations of politicians, by setting up an early warning system. The group also tries to involve women in peace building. Ifeany C. Okechukwu, coordinator of the Nigerian branch, highlights women’s long history way in this field such as in Sierra Leone. WANEP was behind the setting-up of the Africa Peace Building Institute, and works in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).  

The Cleen Foundation works in the areas of public security and justice. The group’s director, Chinedu Yves Nwagu,  says that its most important role is to contribute to the building of a fairer society through practical actions, or, focusing on  supply rather than demand. This is why CLEEN is working, for instance, on training programmes for the police in the fight against crime. "The solution is not to buy more weapons, but to provide more education and health services", he explains. Nigeria, he says, is a society in transition, one which has only held four elections since the end of dictatorship. "The average Nigerian was satisfied with the outcome of the recent elections. There is still a lot to do, of course, such as improving electricity supply which would bring down production costs, and creating jobs etc.” This is all the more reason, concludes Nwagu, for complete transparency in the awarding of public contracts, for example. He is positive about the future, but at the same time, is keeping a watchful eye on identifying possible areas of abuse in the sectors covered by his foundation.  

Hegel Goutier