GOODNEWS: Read Obama's last bill that favors Nigeria

- The United states has issued a new bill into law to address threats posed by Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East

- According to the law, the counter-terrorism strategy must follow

- The U.S. law provides that the American government should enhance the capacity of Nigeria and partner nations, including Chad, Niger and Cameroon, to combat Boko Haram

Read Obama's last bill that favors Nigeria

The United states has issued a new bill into law to address the threat posed by Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East.

According to Premium Times, an analysis of factors that have helped Boko Haram fester and recruit must come to grips with issues of poor socio-economic environment and access to justice in Nigeria’s north-east, the United States said.

The U.S. issued the position in a new law, S. 1632 – ‘An Act to require a regional strategy to address the threat posed by Boko Haram’ – signed last week by outgoing American President, Barack Obama.

Part of the US law reads: “It is the sense of the Congress that lack of economic opportunity and access to education, justice and other social services contribute to the ability of Boko Haram to radicalize and recruit individuals.”

According to the law, the counter-terrorism strategy must follow “a means for assisting Nigeria, and as appropriate, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to combat Boko Haram, to counter violent extremism, including efforts to address the underlying factors shown to contribute to the ability of Boko Haram to radicalize and recruit individuals.”

The law also provides for plans to enhance the capacity of Nigeria’s MNJTF partner nations to investigate and prosecute human right abuses by security forces; promote respect for the rule of law within the military; and prevent corruption.

The U.S. law provides that the American government should, “pursuant to existing authorities and restrictions”, help enhance the military capacity of Nigeria and partner nations, including Chad, Niger and Cameroon, to combat Boko Haram.

It also provides that Nigeria should be helped in terms of “long-term capacity to enhance security for schools such that children are safer and girls seeking education are protected, and to combat gender-based violence and inequality.”

The strategies, the law provides, should form elements of a five-year plan to be submitted to U.S. Congress within 180 days by the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.

Then, the Director of the US National Intelligence should assess “the willingness and capacity” of Nigeria and regional partners to implement the plan and submit a report on the assessment to Congress, the law further provides.

Specifically, the law seeks assessment of Nigeria’s readiness to address socio-economic factors that help Boko Haram fester and “legitimate grievances” of populations affected by the group.

Although the law provides that the U.S. should militarily assist Nigeria and her regional partners, there is no specific provision to sell arms to Nigeria.

To address the problems provoked by Boko Haram and combat the terrorism with lasting measures, Nigeria’s government and the country’s neighbours must “accept and address the legitimate grievances of vulnerable populations affected by Boko Haram,” said the U.S., in evolving strategies to help Nigeria combat the terrorist group through the new law.

In another development, the US has announced plans to fight poverty in Nigeria through the provision of about N71.5 billion additional developmental assistance to support the five-year $2.3bn agreement signed with the federal government in 2015.

The US ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, made the announcement in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday, December 20.

The support would be given through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is intended to help Nigeria reduce extreme poverty by stimulating inclusive economic growth, promote healthier, more-educated population, and strengthen good governance.