Nongovernmental Organizations and Peacebuilding in the Northeastern Nigeria: Exploring the Problems

Abstract

Boko Haram insurgency and other related crimes like banditry and kidnapping have left dire human and economic consequences on the Northeast region. The government and NGOs have been carrying out various peacebuilding interventions that have been marred by myriads of problems. This paper explored these problems through interviews, a structured questionnaire, and extant literature. The study was set in Borno and Adamawa states, and 20 NGOs staff were interviewed while 200 questionnaires were distributed among a purposive sample population of NGOs staff, NEMA officials and security agents. The results provide a concise exposition into the broad-based and community-based problems of peacebuilding, including lack of government cooperation and commitment, continued insecurity and displacement, inadequate regional cooperation, ungoverned spaces, and lack of adequate funding among others. To this end, based on the MTD model, the study recommends a multistakeholder engagement in order to surmount these problems and build the peace edifice in Nigeria.