Jos, Plateau State, March 18, 2025 – A two-day State-Level Stakeholders Consultation aimed at developing an Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) strategy and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Plateau State has been convened. The event was organized by the Plateau State Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) in collaboration with the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA) under the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) initiative.
The SPRING initiative, a four-year program funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and managed by Tetra Tech International Development, seeks to foster stability and peace in Nigeria by addressing conflict, security, justice, and natural resource management challenges. The consultation, held at Novel Suites in Jos, brought together key stakeholders, including security agencies, government institutions, civil society organizations, and community representatives.
Day One: Setting the Stage for an Effective EWER System
In his opening remarks, Dr. Chris Agoha, Country Director of HD, emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach to conflict prevention.
“At its core, early warning and early response systems are intended to identify and analyze conflict trends, alert to conflict risks, inform decision-making, and initiate timely responses to prevent violent conflict,” he stated.
Goodwill messages were delivered by various representatives, including the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), and the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs. Mr. Nantip Joseph, representing PPBA, lauded the HD platform’s contributions to peacebuilding in the state. “Peace cannot be achieved by one body alone. Having all stakeholders dedicate their resources and time to this process is a commendable step towards sustainable solutions,” he said.
Panel discussions on the first day addressed inter-agency coordination and collaboration. Key insights included the need for sustained community engagement, improved information sharing between security agencies, and the adoption of technology in monitoring early warning signals. Other discussions focused on promoting community engagement and ownership of peace efforts, emphasizing the role of traditional institutions, NGOs, and local leaders in sustaining peace initiatives.
Day Two: Resource Mobilization and Policy Frameworks
The second day featured panel discussions on resource mobilization for the full implementation of the Plateau EWER strategy and SOPs. The session was chaired by representatives from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), GIZ, the private sector, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and the Plateau State House of Assembly’s Appropriation Committee.
Discussions emphasized the importance of identifying local funding sources rather than solely relying on foreign donors. Suggestions included utilizing residential taxes, private sector partnerships, and contributions from religious organizations. Participants also stressed the need for technology-driven solutions to enhance communication and monitoring efforts.
Another critical discussion focused on policy frameworks and legislation, led by the Plateau State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, members of the Plateau State House of Assembly, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Plateau Youth Council (PYC). The panel identified gaps in existing policies and proposed the integration of EWER strategies into state laws to ensure sustainability.
Hon. Nambo Lipstick, representing Langtang North Central in the Plateau State House of Assembly, emphasized the need to reinforce moral values as part of EWER strategies. “While it is essential to address the issue of properly assigning punishment, it is time we focus on moral values as a means of early warning and response. This will ensure that crime and crisis situations are prevented in the first place,” he stated.
Key Findings and Recommendations
Stakeholders identified major challenges and proposed solutions to enhance the Plateau EWER system.
Challenges Identified:
- Early warning systems should expand beyond security concerns to include climate change and socio-economic factors.
- Weak coordination among security agencies.
- Limited government support for peacebuilding efforts.
- Low awareness and engagement from community members.
- Socio-cultural barriers and patriarchal norms limiting women’s participation.
- Insufficient training and capacity-building initiatives.
Recommendations:
- Strengthen collaboration and clearly define roles among security agencies and stakeholders.
- Ensure proper monitoring and assessment of implemented strategies.
- Uphold human rights principles in early warning responses.
- Conduct regular community meetings to enhance local involvement.
- Promote volunteerism in peacebuilding initiatives.
- Leverage existing community structures such as traditional rulers, women’s groups, and youth networks.
- Utilize technology for improved early warning monitoring and data sharing.
- Address drug abuse and work toward poverty eradication as preventive measures against conflicts.
At the close of the consultation, Dr. Agoha noted that stakeholders would reconvene on March 25, 2025, to validate the strategy and SOP documents developed from the consultations.
The Plateau State EWER Strategy is expected to serve as a critical framework for conflict prevention and response, fostering sustainable peace in the state and setting a precedent for other regions in Nigeria.
