Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of Plateau State warmly welcomed participants from six states to a three-day training program on Participatory Conflict Monitoring, Reporting, and Learning for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project. The event, held from July 23 to 25, 2024, in Jos, aims to address land degradation and climate change in Northern Nigeria and is organized in collaboration with Search for Common Ground (SFCG).
Supported by the World Bank, the ACReSAL Project targets environmental and agricultural challenges across the 19 northern states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The training sessions are also being held in Bauchi State for the northeast and Kaduna State for the northwest.
The Commissioner of Environment, Climate Change, and Mineral Development, Peter Gwom, inaugurated the training at Crispan Hotel on behalf of Governor Mutfwang. He emphasized the program’s importance in mitigating climate change impacts and integrating conflict resolution into environmental projects.
“ACReSAL is a crucial intervention by the World Bank addressing environmental, agricultural, and water resource challenges,” Gwom stated. “This training is vital for equipping our project teams with the skills needed to handle conflicts, ensuring the sustainability of our initiatives.”
Henrietta Nyazi Alhassan, representing the National Project Coordinator, Abdelhamid Kumar, highlighted the significance of peacebuilding within the ACReSAL framework. “Under component B of ACReSAL, we focus on community climate resilience, which includes peacebuilding to ensure our interventions can proceed smoothly in conflict-prone areas,” she explained.
Mr. Garaba Gowon, Plateau State ACReSAL Project Coordinator, underscored the training’s relevance, particularly during the farming season when conflicts often arise. “This training is timely as it prepares our teams to handle conflicts in communities where we implement our projects, such as tree planting and greening activities,” Gowon said.
Participants from Plateau, Niger, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and the FCT, representing the north-central zone, are attending the event. Simultaneous training sessions across the north aim to build the capacities of state program teams in conflict mitigation and community engagement.
Mr. Godwin Okoko, Head of Program Implementation at Search for Common Ground, highlighted the collaborative nature of the training. “We aim to build the capacities of ACReSAL teams in conflict-sensitive approaches and stakeholder engagement to ensure the project’s success across the 19 northern states,” Okoko stated.
Participants, including those who had not visited Plateau State in years, expressed optimism about the training’s impact and the peaceful environment in Jos. The program aims to equip them with the necessary tools to manage conflicts and ensure the sustainability of environmental projects in their respective communities.
The general-secretary of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi has disclosed that egg heads and technical buffs of the governing body are working hard towards brining an A-license coaching course back to the country.
Sports247 reports that Sanusi made the disclosure while speaking at the ongoing Confederation of African Football (CAF) B-license coaches refresher course in Abuja, which he said became imperative to upgrade the country’s tacticians.
While revealing that the coaching course is running alongside a similar training programme for referees in the country, Sanusi, who is one of the instructors, affirmed that the dual-programme will bring huge benefits for participants.
Sanusi, who spoke on behalf of NFF president, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, at the opening ceremony of the six-day course in Abuja on Monday, further disclosed that specialized paths have been introduced in building of capacity in the sector.
He specifically mentioned programmes in the areas of young talent, beach soccer and FIFA elite referees that were organized earlier this month, then disclosed that Nigeria has been admitted back into the CAF A-License Coaching Convention.
The NFF scribe described this development as a significant step for Nigerian coaches and urged them to diligently build their capacity towards the highest level possible in the game, then urged participants to show total commitment to excel.
“The technical department is now working assiduously towards resuming the CAF A-License course in Nigeria in August, for the first time in nine years. We have a total of 50 participants for the refresher course, but only 25 will be admitted.
“We will set very high standards and only the best will cross the hurdle. That does not mean we are going to close the door for others. Immediately we are done with this CAF A-course starting in August, we will apply for another one at that level.”
Sanusi also revealed that Gusau, who is also the president of West African Football Union (WAFU) zone-B, has approved a vehicle to move Video Assistant Referee (VAR) training equipment into Nigeria to upgrade match arbiters in the country.
The Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria, Kaduna branch, has condemned the mob killing of a woman at the Maraban Jos area of Kaduna. The association described the incident as barbaric and a serious threat to the rule of law.
This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna, signed by its chairman, Awwal Shittu, and secretary, Ibrahim Bawa.
MULAN expressed shock and sadness over reports of the attack, murder, and burning of the woman following allegations of child theft. It described the act as jungle justice and maintained that no allegation of criminal conduct justifies extrajudicial punishment.
The association stated that the killing violated the victim’s fundamental right to life as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.
It said the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly reports that the victim was removed from police custody before being killed, raised serious concerns about security procedures and the protection of persons in lawful custody.
According to MULAN, if confirmed, the development points to possible lapses that require urgent and transparent investigation.
“The duty of law enforcement agencies is to protect lives, maintain law and order, and ensure that suspects are subjected only to lawful investigation and prosecution. No person in police custody should be surrendered, directly or indirectly, to mob violence,” the association stated.
MULAN called for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the killing and the surrounding circumstances. It also demanded the identification, arrest, and prosecution of all persons involved in carrying out, encouraging, or facilitating the mob action.
The association further urged authorities to investigate the conduct of the security personnel responsible for the deceased’s custody and protection and to apply disciplinary or legal sanctions where necessary.
While commending the police for arrests already made and its commitment to prosecuting those responsible, MULAN stressed that justice must be impartial and extend beyond those physically present at the scene.
The association said investigations should also examine possible acts of negligence, complicity, or omission that may have contributed to the incident.
It pledged to monitor the investigation and prosecution process and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting human rights, accountability, and the sanctity of life through lawful means.
MULAN reiterated that under Nigerian law, every suspect remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. The association warned that mob justice undermines public confidence in lawful institutions and threatens social order.
It also extended condolences to the deceased’s family and prayed for peace, justice, and greater respect for the rule of law.
The incident has attracted reactions from stakeholders following the barbaric act.
The police command in Kaduna condemned the mob action and announced the arrest of suspects in connection with the incident, saying that investigations continue.