The implementation of peace and security programme initiative in Nigeria: The role of NEPAD

Abstract

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as an Agency of the African Union was established in 2001 by the African leaders with the view of eradicating poverty in Africa. The NEPAD programme initiatives encompasses the political, economic and social-cultural development of the African states through partnership with the private and public sectors, the international community and countries in and outside Africa. Through thematic areas of NEPAD such as, democracy and political governance has encompassed the peace and security programme initiative of NEPAD as a priority to be achieved. This then forms the objective of this paper to be studied considering the insecurity challenges that faced the Nigerian state as a member of the African Union and co-initiator of the NEPAD programme initiative. Since 2009, the Nigerian state is faced with the activities of the Boko Haram militant group whose engagement has led to activities such as burning and bombing of people’s houses, churches, Mosques and public buildings, killing of innocent lives including but not limited to both Christians and Muslims, attack on security operatives and schools which include bombing of structures. This paper therefore, is to study the strategic plan of NEPAD in implementing the peace and security objective for the purpose of promoting peace and political stability in Nigeria. The methodology adopted in this research is the review of previous literature, the use of descriptive, historical, and interpretative methods of analysis, with the available research materials. The findings thus reveal that, issues such as zoning of political and elective positions should be addressed in the Nigerian constitution in order to accommodate the six geopolitical zones so as to promote unity, political stability, peace and security within the Nigerian state.