World Bank says Nigeria is not a fragile country as current security challenges are surmountable

WORLD Bank officials have dismissed suggestions that Nigeria is a fragile state pointing out that the current challenges the country is facing are all surmountable as the violence being witnessed is driven by poverty and high levels of unemployment.

Over recent months, Nigeria has suffered from a massive growth in crime as banditry, kidnapping and communal violence have surged dramatically. Particularly across northern Nigeria, AK47 assault rifles are now widely available and an army of disenfranchised youths are using them to commit all sorts of crimes.

However, according to Amara Konneh, the World Bank Group's Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) adviser, Nigeria is not a fragile state even with the current security challenges. Speaking during a meeting by the group to address violence affecting some countries, he said the World Bank Group is focused on addressing FCV and as an institution has a way of classifying a country fragile, after critical assessment.

Mr Konneh said: “Nigeria is not a fragile country but there is need to address some issues to prevent it from being a fragile state." According to Mr Konneh, the World Bank Group would not only address the root causes of FCV but would partner private sectors to create job stability to increase growth.

He noted that the objective was to address the drivers of FCV in affected countries and their impact on vulnerable populations with the end goal of contributing to peace and prosperity. Mr Konneh said this could be achieved by helping countries escape the fragility trap, protect essential institutions and deliver critical services such as health and education.

Alkasim Abdulkadir, the spokesperson of the Presidential Committee on Victims Support Fund, said the Nigeria government should do more in terms of conflict prevention and resolution. He added too agreed that most of the violence in the country was driven by poverty and high levels of unemployment.