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            Nigeria Official Denies Insecurity Drives Away Investors

   by Peter Clottey

   An adviser to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has denied reports
   that the country's security challenges are driving away investors.
   Doyin Okupe, senior special adviser for public affairs, says the
   administration is working with prominent elders in the north to find
   solutions to the violence often perpetrated by an Islamist militant
   group, Boko Haram.
   "Now, very important personalities in the country, especially in the
   north, have constituted themselves into a very strong body and they are
   determined to put an end to this," Okupe said. "And in our country,
   this is very cherry news, because these are very respected people whose
   voices can hardly be ignored.
   "It is obvious to all and sundry, and those who are willing to be
   objective, to know that the issue of the insurgency in Nigeria is on
   its way out."
   Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in Nigeria,
   including church bombings and the bombing of a United Nations building.
   The group has threatened international media organizations, including
   VOA's Hausa service.
   The militant group has said it is fighting to create an Islamic state
   in northern Nigeria and says it does not recognize the Nigerian
   government or the constitution.
   Okupe said the government is taking measures to curb the growing threat
   posed by the violent militant group.
   He said Boko Haram is active in seven Nigerian states. "The remaining
   29 states are totally insurgency free, violent free," Okupe said. "So,
   in terms of investment [the effect] is extremely minimal.
   "Right now the incidences of insurgency are on a massive decline," he
   said. "The government is in control the security apparatus and
   architecture have been reformed and overhauled. It's a war that the
   government is winning."
   Okupe also held open the possibility of talks between the government
   and Boko Haram.
   "Information that we have is that ... Boko Haram on its own is
   interested in negotiating with government," Okupe said, adding that
   "the government is not averse to negotiating with Boko Haram. The
   government will explore and exploit every possibility to end this
   crisis in the interest of peace and stability to help the economy of
   Nigeria."
   Okupe also dismissed concerns that some states might be quietly
   contemplating the idea of breaking away from Nigeria.
   "This is plain mischief and this can only come from mischief-makers
   ...," he said. "People are more interested in self-determination, which
   is all part and parcel of what a truly federal system is all about.
   ...The issue of secession or anything of that nature is totally
   unfounded, it is not true and it has no basis."
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/nigeria-pfficial-denies-insecurity-dr
   ives-away-investors/1497520.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/nigeria-pfficial-denies-insecurity-drives-away-investors/1497520.html