The United Kingdom (UK) has reaffirmed its commitment to combat counterterrorism and work with partners to tackle this enduring and evolving threat.
A press statement on Friday by the Communications and Public Affairs Officer, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, British High Commission Estelle Sackey said the aim of CONTEST, the UK’s counterterrorism strategy, is to reduce the risk from terrorism to the UK, its citizens and interests overseas, so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence.
The statement added the UK Home Office officials conducted a comprehensive review of evidence on the terrorist threat and of the UK’s strategic response to inform this revised strategy.
According to the statement, the latest version of the CONTEST framework empowers UK government departments, devolved administrations, local authorities, frontline emergency services, intelligence agencies, and other partners, to work together to counter terrorism. “Our global allies, and independent experts, recognise the core CONTEST Framework – Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare – as world leading.”
It added that: “The UK continues to work with partners and colleagues in Nigeria to foster greater collaboration, share learning, and deliver together against a common threat.”
Speaking at the CONTEST launch event held in Abuja, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery said:
“A terrorist threat can emerge suddenly and grow rapidly. To enable us to respond, we must systematically build on our counterterrorism partnerships. The UK is looking to increase its diplomatic and political interventions in support of our CT objectives wherever we can, both to support operational activity, and to support our key partners. That’s why I was delighted to host partners and colleagues of this community, to share the UKs CONTEST strategy, as a way to bring people together to build stronger relationships and explore opportunities for collaboration.
As President Tinubu said in New York, “the entire region faces a protracted battle against violent extremists. Only together, can we address this threat.”
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
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CARROT AND STICK POLICY
Nigeria in the league of developing nations has adequate manpower and abundant resources to emerge as leader in global politicking, diplomacy, business and economic development, an unobstructive hub in Africa, attracting investors married to diversely rich cultural heritage with enormous human capital development, yet untapped potentials and larger market values, trailing countries like India and Indonesia as examples to excel.
Since independence in 1960, successive governments tinkered on loosely woven fabric that lacks national cohesion and identity in order to unite the people, irrespective of religious beliefs, cultural heritage and values in tandem with peaceful coexistence.
We're now caught up in just about everything that separates and divide us, orchestrated by failed leaderships, neck-deep in corruption in any known establishment and institutions over time.
The colonial masters partly blamed for the illusions, predicated by the elites' connivance as accessories in looting national treasuries, stolen funds stashed away in foreign countries banks and veiled national assets littering around the world unaccounted for.
It's a shame the U. S. and UK, other western democracies are crying wolf now, considering worsening security issues, economic downturn, deplorable living standards with high inflation, unemployment and bleaker future for citizens, especially majority of youths, engaging in nefarious activities to survive hardships caused by the Tinubu administration removal of so-called oil subsidy, devaluation of the the Naira to the dollar, and other failing policies in place.
It's disheartening security agencies high-handedness glaring; the judiciary subjected to whims and caprices of the ruling class, obeying oppresive orders, delivering biased judgements. Thanks majority of youths, including the Obidients, relentlessly fighting for a new and better Nigeria. It seems partisan to mention Peter Obi as possible change icon in the making. However, any leader of considerable calibre like him urgently needed to save the country from dictatorship and anarchy gradually creeping into ongoing development, in search of good governance with leadership Nigerians would repose confidence and trust to move the nation forward. As at now the West has nothing for our nation to come clean from the quagmire, except asking us to buy weapons, fighting insecurity and sending aids for more external debts; borrowing and servicing likewise.