FG WILL TACKLE VIOLENT EXTREMISM – MINISTER

The Federal Government has come up with a comprehensive strategy to
tackle violent extremism across the country, the Minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said.

Speaking during a visit to the offices of the Leadership newspaper in
Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister said the strategy was contained in a
document, entitled ‘Policy Framework and National Action Plan for
Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism’, which was launched by
President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Tuesday.

The document was developed after consultations with the agencies of
government, civil society organizations, media, academia and the
international community, he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the Administration is steadily restoring peace
and security to the North-east, which was in
the grip of the terrorists when it (Administration) assumed office on
the 29th of May 2015.

”We have put Boko Haram on the run. Occasionally, they attack soft
targets, but even that is being tackled with intelligence-driven
measures,” he said.

The Minister also said the Administration is revamping the economy,
adding that the Naira is now stable, foreign
reserves have risen from 23 billion to 35 billion dollars within a
year, Nigeria has been named among the top 10 reforming economies in
the world and the country has leapfrogged 24 places in the ease of
doing business
rankings.

”We are taming inflation, which has fallen for eight consecutive
months. We are building infrastructure and we are creating jobs. Also,
I am glad to inform you that capital importation into Nigeria in Q3
2017 recorded a substantial increase, compared to the past few
quarters, as the economy continued to recover from recession. The
total capital imported in Q3 was recorded at $4,145.1 million, more
than double the inflow in the second quarter of this year,
representing an increased value of 147.5% on a year-on-year basis,”
he said.

On the fight against corruption, Alhaji Mohammed said the
Administration is winning the war against corruption, having succeeded
in driving corruption under the table.

He hailed the Leadership newspaper for carrying out its duties
professionally, adding: ”You have supported us and you have
criticised us, and each time you have been guided by the ethics of
your profession – fairness, accuracy,
impartiality, truthfulness, and objectivity,” he said.