Nigeria Orders International NGO To Leave
Nigerian government has asked the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) to leave the country with immediate effect.
Founded in 2011, INSO is an independent, international Non-Governmental Organisation with headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.
The order may not be unconnected to recent exposè by a US congressman of links between some NGOs and the terrorist group, Boko HaramSWAP.
INSO which has been operating in Nigeria confirmed that it has been ordered to suspend its operations in the country.
“Today, INSO received a formal request from Nigerian authorities to suspend its humanitarian activities in the country,” the organisation’s County Director, Zeljko Toncic, said in a statement on Saturday.
“In strict compliance with this decision, INSO is immediately suspending all of its services to humanitarian partners in Nigeria.”
Mr Toncic, however, said the organisation is ready to engage in dialogue with the Nigerian authorities.
INSO started its humanitarian services in Nigeria in 2016 and has since supported quite a number of non-governmental organisations with humanitarian aid across the country.
In March, the government made attempts to investigate NGOs after U.S. Congressman Scott Perry alleged that USAID funding were used to support Boko Haram activities especially in the North-East.
However, the investigation suffered pushback from NGOs which described it as needless intrusion and infringement on their rights.
As far back as 2023, Zamfara State Government had accused NGOs of fueling insecurity in the state and ordered them to leave the state.
There was also a similar order by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, who barred NGOs from five local government areas because of security concerns.
