Introduction

The relationship between conflict and corruption in Nigeria is one that has attracted huge attention from academics, policy makers and practitioners. While efforts have been made to respond to the causalities and consequences of conflicts in the country, there is a sense in which corruption has become a phenomenon that fuels and sustains conflicts.  Some of the ways in which corruption sustains conflict include the use and abuse of security votes by government officials, non-adherence to policies and guidelines on procurements in the award of contracts, diversion of funds, use of fictitious persons and companies for award of contracts, contract variations, diversion of relief materials among others. In specific terms, international organisations have also been accused of not meeting their obligations in terms of value for money with specific reference to humanitarian response.

In view of this, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) who has been a key player in advocating for anticorruption and accountability in Nigeria, with support from MacArthur Foundation is conducting a research to analyse the nexus between conflict, insurgency and corruption in Nigeria with the aim of finding out how corruption makes conflict so difficult to resolve and also finding lasting solutions and providing recommendations to how conflict in Nigeria can best be manage.

In this regard, the Centre held a research meeting on 17^th December, 2019 at the centre’s head office in Kano. The meeting was carried out with the purpose of presenting the research concepts, discussing the methodology, as well as agreeing on the research calendar.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Executive Director of the centre, Dr. Yunusa Yau welcomed the participants and also explained the purpose of the meeting to the participants. Dr. Chris Kwaja of Modibbo University of Technology, Yola explained that the research would have three pillars of Academic, policy and action research methods. The methodology is also mainly a desk review and some primary data i.e, interviews where necessary.

Presentation of The Six Thematic Areas of the Research by the Researchers

1. Corruption and the Extractive Sector: Lessons from Zamfara State by Dr. Yunusa Yau of CITAD.

Until recently, Zamfara state has become a hostile and no-go area for a long period of time and the conflict in Zamfara was not unpredictable. Community stakeholders has expressed their prediction for a bloodshed if nothing could be done. The conflict between farmers and herders, the takeover of more than 80% of grazing lands by politicians and other bosses, the selfish interest of politicians who mobilise, arm and equip thugs  with weapons, the poor provision of jobs and other welfares for the already armed youths organised by the politicians, the interest of political, security, religious/traditional leaders to benefit from the insurgency, the complicated and  unclear procedures and policies set for the mining licensing as well as responding to violence with violence approach of government for peacemaking which subject the whole community to harm etc are among the issues this research component will look at, analyse provide recommendations to the problems.

2. Impact of Corruption on Human Rights in Nigeria by Dr. Chris Kwaja of MouTech.

Effect of corruption on human rights and how human rights impact corruption is another angle that this research intended to cover. Welfare, security and resources extraction are the major responsibilities of the government. Similarly, the resources that were extracted are meant to provide and protect the state. But when the government fails to provide the public with employment opportunities and other human welfares and also fail to protect the state from violence and insecurity, it becomes a generator of violence instead of a protector. Again, the government response to violence with a violent approach is another factor to be captured from this angle.

3. Impact of Corruption on Reconstruction and Rebuilding in the North East by Abu Hamisu.

This aspect will focus on corruption by delineating several factors that led to the insurgency on the northeast by looking at the  existence of a group and how or why they become insurgent or violent. Looking at Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast, the group has been existing since 1990s but were never violent until after the killing of Muhammad Yusuf. Ignorance and poverty are seen as major factors that led for the boko Haram insurgency, but behind these factors is corruption. People desire change but the means of recruiting political leaders is not just and peaceful means of electing leaders were absent. In the IDPs camp similarly, the leaders aren’t accountable and the immediate needs of people are not met, the welfares mostly focus on areas that have no direct impact on people’s lives. In general, the private interest is overriding the public interest which generated into a conflict.

 

4. Impact of Corruption in Addressing Kidnapping and Banditry by Dr. Aminu Hayatu of Bayero University, Kano.

This component of research will be looking at how kidnapping and banditry comes with certain linkage with corruption which if interrogated will reveal a lot of information on how corruption plays a vital role in the issues of kidnapping and insecurity, how the state refused to provide the infrastructure needed in place and how the funds set to tackle such problems are being misplaced. Similarly, the narratives sold out to the public in form of post truth and conspiracy to escaping theories to divert the attention of the public from public discourse is another interesting area that will be captured in this aspect of the research.

Other areas to be covered in this research include:

5. Broadcast Media’s Coverage and Analysis of Official Corruption in Relation to Insurgency in the North East by Tunde Akanni of Lagos State University, and .
6. Impact of Corruption on Counterinsurgency Efforts in the North East by Hassana Ibrahim Waziri:

Research Methodology

Desk Review with primary data interviews where necessary.

Research Calendar:

1. Methodology Meeting – 17^th December 2019
2. Desk/Field Work – 18^th December 2019 – 18^th February 2020
3. Submission of Draft Papers – 19^th February 2020
4. Review of Draft Papers – 20^th February – 1^st March 2020
5. Work on Reviewed Papers by Researchers – 2^nd March – 16^th March 2020
6. Submission of Final Papers by Researchers – 30^th March 2020

Referencing and Font:

(i)         Adopt the APA Sixth Edition Referencing Style and footnotes for explanations where necessary.

(ii)        Use the Times Romans, 12 Font and 1.5 Line Spacing

Word Limits:

(i)         Not more than 6,500 words

Writing Format:

(i)         Abstract

(ii)        Background / Introduction / Context

(iii)       Body of the Research (format at researcher’s discretion)

(iv)       Recommendations

(v)        Conclusions