Nigeria Develops Policy Against Ethnic Profiling

Dr. Kabir Adamu, Managing Director of BSIL, announced the development of a national policy aimed at combating ethnic profiling and stereotyping in Nigeria during a high-level conference in Abuja. This initiative will produce an anti-ethnic stereotyping toolkit and a policy brief to guide security agencies, media, and policymakers in using non-stigmatizing language in operations.

The conference, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, emphasized the need for accurate and context-based language in security operations to foster trust and avoid division among communities. Brigadier General Saleh Bala (rtd), founder of WISER, urged government bodies and civil society organizations to support the implementation of the conference outcomes, recommending that the toolkit and policy brief be submitted to relevant institutions for practical guidance.

The initiative aims to strengthen national cohesion and ensure that the tools developed serve as living frameworks for community engagement and trust-building, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.