Stakeholders from Plateau and neighboring states have called for strengthened multi-sectoral collaboration, sustained dialogue, and practical policy reforms to curb rising cross-border conflicts and promote inclusive governance for sustainable peace across the region.

The call was made at the end of a two-day Multi-Agency and Multi-Sectoral Roundtable Discussion on Cross-Border Conflicts and Diversity Management Towards a Sustainable Peace Architecture in Plateau State, held from October 7–8, 2025, at Novel Suites, Jos.

The forum brought together representatives from security agencies, government ministries, traditional and religious institutions, civil society organizations, and international development partners to deliberate on strategies for managing border-related conflicts and fostering long-term stability.

Persistent Conflict Drivers Identified

In a communiqué read by Alhaji Ibrahim Sale Hassan, Senior National Expert Adviser, HD Nigeria, participants observed that violent conflicts in Plateau State are intricately linked to border disputes, ethno-religious tensions, and governance challenges involving neighboring states such as Bauchi, Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Taraba.

They identified key drivers of conflict to include farmer-herder clashes, land and boundary disputes, banditry, arms and human trafficking, drug trade, and the negative influence of social media. Other contributing factors noted were environmental degradation, socio-economic inequalities, and weak institutional coordination in managing border communities.

The meeting also raised concerns over the activities of transnational criminal groups and mercenaries, stressing the urgent need for stronger cross-border cooperation and effective implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Transhumance and Border Management.

Key Recommendations

On Cross-Border Management, stakeholders recommended:

• Continuous multi-stakeholder engagement to identify and address emerging security threats.
• Greater leadership from Deputy Governors in initiating structured frameworks for cross-border peacebuilding.
• Constitutional empowerment of traditional rulers to enhance local governance.
• Sustained dialogue and peaceful engagement in boundary demarcation areas.
• Support for the Federal Government’s establishment of forest guards to secure ungoverned spaces, following the Gashaka-Gumti model.
• Adoption of a people-centered approach to security by integrating environmental protection, healthcare, food security, and economic empowerment into peace strategies.
• Increased private sector participation in job creation, infrastructure, and border community development.

On Diversity Management, participants called for deliberate actions by leaders to promote inclusion, fairness, and equitable resource distribution. They also proposed a national rebranding campaign to foster unity and shared identity, alongside constitutional reforms that ensure justice and equity.

A gender and disability audit was further recommended to address the representation gap within the formal sector.

Acknowledgements and Next Steps

The communiqué acknowledged Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) Nigeria, in partnership with the Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PPBA) and with the support of GIZ, for facilitating the forum and sustaining dialogue on peacebuilding efforts across the state.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Ahmed Yassin, Lead Facilitator, HD Nigeria, commended the level of engagement among participants and emphasized that peacebuilding is a continuous process requiring partnership, inclusivity, and collective commitment.

“Dialogue is not a one-time event; it is a continuous process,” Dr. Yassin stated. “Violence is a shared threat, and therefore, we must work towards shared solutions. The next step is to broaden this engagement by bringing together deputy governors and stakeholders from neighboring states to jointly address these cross-border issues.”

The roundtable concluded with a reaffirmation of participants’ commitment to sustained dialogue and collaboration toward building a peaceful, inclusive, and resilient Plateau State and its neighboring regions.