Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme on religious conflict in the Middle Belt.

Intercommunal violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt has a devastating effect on faith and non-faith communities. The root causes of this intercommunal violence are often complex and include competition over resources and disruption to traditional ways of life created by environmental degradation, in addition to religious factors. The Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme (SPRiNG) will support Nigeria to address the root causes of conflict in the Middle Belt, including natural resource management challenges. The programme will aim to help 1.5 million women and men benefit from reduced violence in their communities and support 300,000 people to better adapt to the effects of environmental degradation.