The Nigeria Watch database is a project initially put in place by Prof. Marc-Antoine Pérouse de Montclos, political scientist and researcher at the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), who remains the scientific director and team leader. The database aims at compiling and monitoring homicides and violent deaths (including road accidents) in Nigeria in order to provide quantitative data and assist in the analysis of trends of violence (more information at http://www.nigeriawatch.org/). It is built from a thorough analysis of the Nigerian press (15 dailies and weeklies), and rests on a sophisticated programme developed and managed by Opsomaï, a leading French firm in the archiving of complex data.

This unique initiative is of inestimable value for analysis in security, violence, development, and peace and conflict studies, among others, focusing on Nigeria. The project, relocated within the premises of IFRA-Nigeria at the University of Ibadan, will be funded by the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) for a period of two years. The IFRA-Nigeria team will continue developing the database and will provide training for scholars in its use.

The Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and managed by the British Council, International Alert and Social Development Direct, seeks to “enhance collective efforts to identify and respond effectively to potential sources of violent conflict in Nigeria and reduce the negative impacts of conflict on the most vulnerable among the Nigerian population” (see details at http://projects.dfid.gov.uk/project...).

The agreement was signed on 1 February 2013 and implementation is on-going.