As citizens of the European Union, we enjoy the great privilege of peace. And whilst many Europeans today may take peace for granted, a look beyond the borders of the EU serves as a reminder of how much remains to be done when it comes to promoting peace in other parts of the world.
A country that has attracted a great deal of media attention over the past months is Nigeria. In recent times, the country has witnessed an explosive mix of tensions and inequalities that have fuelled a surge in violence, claiming thousands of casualties.
Ironically, these tensions stem from one of Nigeria’s great assets – its diversity. The Nigerian population is a markedly heterogeneous one, with a multitude of ethnic, linguistic and religious backgrounds. Yet, this very diversity is creating dividing lines that are now threatening to fragment the continent’s most populous country.
The most obvious divide is the one between the north and the south of Nigeria. Whilst the ethnic groups in the north of the country are primarily Muslims, the south is mainly inhabited by Christians and animists. There is a long history of tensions between these groups and the introduction of Sharia Law in a number of northern states deepened the already existing divisions.
In recent times, the country has witnessed a string of violent attacks, many of which have been aimed at the Christian community. A militant Islamist group, Boko Haram, was behind many attacks in Northern Nigeria this year, killing hundreds of people. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify the perpetrators of the more recent assaults, which may have been carried out by other groups, whose methods are inspired by those of Boko Haram.
The Nigerian security forces have cracked down on insurgents in recent times. Yet, whether or not these efforts will successfully stem the tide of violence remains to be seen.
While the focus of current media reporting may be on these atrocities, it is worth taking a look at the wealth that actually lies behind this facade of violence. Nigeria is a country with a long history. It is home to vast natural and human resources as well as cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity. Moreover, Nigeria boasts a population of over 160 million people and an oil wealth that makes it one of the largest oil producers in the world. We are looking at a country that has the potential to be West Africa’s powerhouse, but that has fallen victim to poor governance and widespread inequality. Nigeria may be the continent’s largest oil producer, but the sobering truth is that the oil wealth is not benefiting its people, most of whom live on less than $2 per day.
The oil resources, whilst being one of Nigeria’s great assets, also fuel the tensions in the country. In the past, the oil-rich south has witnessed attacks on oil installations by militant groups which called for a more equal distribution of oil revenues.
The recent surge in violent extremism in Nigeria, along with the uprisings in the Arabic world, has been a wake-up call for the European community. Such events always serve as a reminder that security and prosperity in this region may prove vital to our own stability back home.
The European Union has long been committed to fostering development in Nigeria and it launched its 10th European Development Fund programme for Nigeria in 2009. The programme will cover the period until 2013 and funds will be used to finance projects in areas such as peace and security, human rights and governance, as well as trade, regional integration and key development issues. The latter include topics such as climate change, health and cultural and scientific cooperation.
In these crucial times, it is important to reinforce our bridges with a country that despite its various challenges also presents a host of opportunities. The joint cooperation strategy with Nigeria provides the European Union with a powerful toolkit. It allows the EU to incentivise good governance, fight against corruption and reward best practice in the country. In addition to that, the European Union may also play an important role when it comes to brokering peace in Nigeria. By pushing for closer dialogue between key stakeholders, the EU is in a position to prevent violence and promote reconciliation in a country that is currently experiencing a clash of civilisations within its own borders.
The European Union should therefore use its full potential to address the situation in Nigeria. Hopefully, this will enable the community to contribute towards laying the stepping stones that will pave Nigeria’s path towards peace and prosperity in the near future.