Security officials and peacebuilding actors from Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau states have pledged to strengthen inter-state collaboration to tackle insecurity during a high-level consultative dialogue held in Jos, Plateau State.
The event, convened on March 17, 2026, by the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience in partnership with the UK-funded Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Programme and the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency, provided a platform for participants to share experiences, exchange lessons, and develop coordinated strategies to address common security challenges.
In a statement signed on Wednesday by Communications Lead at OSPRE, Amina Wali, organisers said the dialogue is part of ongoing efforts to enhance subnational coordination, improve early warning systems, and promote locally driven responses to evolving threats.
Since 2025, OSPRE’s SPARCS programme has trained over 300 participants across the North-West and North-Central regions in early warning and response mechanisms.
Speaking at the event, SPRING Team Lead, Dr Ukoha Ukiwo, said, “Strengthening local capacities and fostering peer learning platforms such as this dialogue are essential to building resilient systems capable of preventing conflict before escalation.”
The Director General of OSPRE, Mr Chris Ngwodo, appreciated SPRING and the United Kingdom Government for supporting peacebuilding initiatives in Nigeria, stressing the importance of cross-government coordination.
He said, “No single tier of government can address today’s security challenges in isolation. What is required is a coherent, collaborative framework that aligns local knowledge with national capabilities.”
Ms. Julie Sanda, Director General of PSPBA, commended the organisers for their commitment to peacebuilding and called for expanded partnerships to scale successful interventions at the community level.
A highlight of the programme was a peer learning visit to the operational facility of Operation Rainbow, Plateau State Government’s security outfit, where participants gained insights into community-based security coordination, intelligence gathering, and rapid response strategies.
The dialogue concluded with a collective commitment by participating states to institutionalize peer learning platforms, improve early warning and response systems, and enhance inter-state cooperation to ensure sustainable peace and security.
Discover more from VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
