WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is financing a new 24-hour satellite TV channel in northern Nigeria meant to counter insurgencies by the militant Islamist Boko Haram and other groups in the region, the New York Times reported yesterday.
A U.S. official confirmed the project was under way but did not give full details. The official said the United States would “support Nigerian efforts to provide an attractive alternative to the messaging of violent extremists.”
The project is a result of discussions with Nigeria dating back to late 2012 on ways to cooperate against Boko Haram and the content of the channel will be produced by Nigerians in Nigeria, the official said.
The United States has in recent months increased its collaboration with Lagos in response to violence from Boko Haram, including surveillance and communications help after the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in April.
