USAID/OTI Nigeria Field Report
February 14 - 29, 2000
Country Situation
Conflict over a bill to introduce Sharia law took
center stage as rioting and violence erupted in the northern state
of Kaduna. A march protesting the imposition of Sharia law sparked
the violence that resulted in estimates of 200 to 400 people dead.
Thousands of people took refuge in military barracks as mobs roamed
the city, killing and wounding citizens and destroying property.
Ethnic/religious violence spread to the southwest
region of Abia, and with it, fears of general civil unrest and even
civil war.
A communiqué by the Jama'atu Nasril
Islam (JNI) an authoritative, national Islamic body, declared that
the implementation of Sharia does not threaten the existence of the
country and that, contrary to popular opinion, Sharia is not
unmindful of the rights and obligations of non-Muslims.
The House of Representatives directed its Committee
on Judiciary and Legal Matters to work with the Ministry of Justice
to interpret the Constitution as it relates to the implementation of
Sharia. By Feb. 25, President Obasanjo had declared parts of the
Sharia penal code "unconstitutional".
On Feb. 29, Niger and Sokoto states suspended the
implementation of the law and other states considering
implementation have agreed to revert to the original penal code.
Nevertheless, tension is still running high in both the North and
the Southeast.
On the anti-corruption front, the Senate passed the
Anti-Corruption bill, seven months after President Obasanjo
submitted it. The bill, already passed by the House, empowers the
Attorney General to provide an independent counsel to investigate
the President and Vice President, the Governors and their Deputies,
if accused of fraud.
A new code of conduct governing all contractual
agreements with the government has been approved. According to its
terms, contractors must not offer bribes or inducements and must
declare their commission agents. Failure to adhere to both these
terms will result in termination of the contract at no cost to the
government. All heads of government agencies are to adhere strictly
to these guidelines.
In other news, Nigerians are criticizing President
Obasanjo's costly overseas trips. The government has countered
by saying that the trips are necessary to improve Nigeria's
tarnished image and to attract trade and investment.
OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
OTI/Nigeria continues awarding grants around key
transition issues including conflict-resolution, anti-corruption and
good governance. Its assistance is timely, given recent events. The
office hopes to step up activities to help civil society groups
mitigate further tensions.
- OTI Kano is working with the Prime
Peace Project on a conflict resolution project for religious
bodies, women's organizations and youth groups. Also in Kano, a
proposal was approved for a political reporting workshop for
journalists in the northeast zone, led by the Borno Coalition
for Democracy and Progress.
- The African Women Empowerment Group
(AWEG), based in Edo State, is organizing a project that will
bring elected women together with selected women's groups in
three senatorial zones. The goal is to sensitize elected women
to their roles and responsibilities in governance and society at
large, starting in Edo State. A joint team of AWEG facilitators
and elected women will address women at local government and
senate campaign rallies.
- The Negotiation and Conflict Management
Group (NCMG) held a successful two-day workshop to sensitize
working journalists on the need to recognize and assess factors
contributing to conflict. Participants' comments ranged from,
"This is the first time we have been exposed to this
training," to "This is very important…we need
more of it."
- The Development Action Program (DAP)
will begin promoting awareness about women's issues and
democratic leadership for young people in school. The grant will
include needs assessment, training teachers and the formation of
leadership clubs.
- OTI/Port Harcourt approved several new
proposals, including an anti-corruption campaign by the Catholic
Institute for Development, Justice and Caritas (CIDJAP) and
support for youth activities through the Rotary Club.
- A proposal was also approved with the
International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) for an
activity on Alternative Urban Management Finance Strategy for
the Enugu Municipal Council, aimed at helping citizens to have a
say in the way the council is run.
B. Grants Activity Summary
OTI Nigeria grant numbers break down as follows, FY00:
Total number of grants FY00: 40 - $1,268,521
Total number of contracts FY00: 1 - $ 192,686
Total committed:
$1,461,207
FY99 & FY00 Total grants and contracts:
$4,180,518
C. Coordination
Meetings were held with the British Council and the Ford
Foundation to inform them of OTI projects and establish areas of
mutual interest. Many grantees and prospective grantees also receive
funds from one or both of these groups.
D. Implementation
Due to the violence in Kaduna, the security of staff in the Kano
office has generated concern. So far, program work has not been
compromised.
In-country travel has been impeded lately by poor weather, with
many flights delayed or cancelled.
NEXT
STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
OTI is planning a series of conflict resolution
workshops focusing on the ethnic/religious riots in Kaduna and the
general issue of communal tensions between Christians and Muslims,
particularly in Nigeria's northern states.
After an appeal by the Governor of Zamfara State,
OTI will look at ways of generating public discussion and
reconciliation on the Sharia issue.
A workshop on Fiscal Federalism Under Democratic
Dispensation and Prospects for Growth In The Nigerian Economy will
be organized with OTI funding by the Revenue Mobilization,
Allocation and Fiscal Commission in March in Abuja. Participants
will include local government officials, corporate bodies and
representatives of local NGOs.
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