The Nigeria Integrity Watch, a coalition of civil society organisations, has faulted calls by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, reporting Nigeria’s security situation to the UN Security Council.
Rather than attack the Nigerian government, advised the group, SERAP should direct its energies towards fighting terror financiers.
In a statement signed by its National Convener, Dr John Samuel Nangi, the group described SERAP’s position as unfair, counterproductive and capable of damaging Nigeria’s image before the international community.
Nangi argued that escalating the country’s security challenges to the UN Security Council would have negative implications for ordinary Nigerians who have no role in the insecurity confronting the nation.
According to him, rather than portraying Nigeria as a country unable to manage its affairs, attention should be focused on individuals accused of financing terrorism and violent crimes.
“If SERAP truly wants to contribute to the fight against insecurity, it should direct its energy towards exposing and reporting those individuals linked to terrorism financing through appropriate international channels instead of presenting the entire country in a negative light,” he said.
The group maintained that the Federal Government had continued to deploy resources and personnel to combat terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality across the country.
It noted that while security challenges persist, portraying the government as complicit in terrorism amounts to a distortion of facts and an unfair assessment of ongoing efforts by security agencies.
The coalition also questioned what it described as SERAP’s silence on issues involving individuals who have at various times been linked to negotiations and engagements with armed groups.
Nangi said organisations advocating accountability must apply the same standards across board and avoid what he called selective activism.
He recalled that security agencies had, in the past, announced investigations into persons accused of sponsoring terrorism and other violent activities.
According to him, such individuals, rather than the Nigerian state, should be the focus of both local and international scrutiny.
“Nigeria’s enemies are those who finance, sponsor and aid criminal elements. Not the government that is investing resources daily to protect lives and property,” he stated.
The coalition further argued that reporting the Federal Government to the international community as though it were responsible for terrorist activities, was illogical and capable of undermining national security efforts.
The group stressed that insecurity did not begin with the current administration, noting that successive governments had grappled with the challenge and continued to seek lasting solutions.
While acknowledging concerns over the security situation, the group urged civil society organisations to adopt constructive engagement and support efforts aimed at strengthening security institutions.
Nangi added that criticism of government policies should be evidence-based and directed through appropriate institutional channels.
He said the fight against terrorism required national unity, collaboration and responsible advocacy rather than actions capable of tarnishing the country’s reputation.
The coalition therefore called on SERAP to reconsider its position and channel its advocacy towards supporting measures that would help identify, prosecute and expose terrorism financiers.
The group insisted that strengthening the country’s institutions and targeting criminal sponsors remained the most effective path towards ending insurgency, banditry and violent crimes in Nigeria.