The Nigerian government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening early warning and early response mechanisms as part of efforts to prevent conflict, enhance national security, and promote sustainable peace and development.
This position was conveyed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who was represented by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, at a Capacity Building Engagement Session on “Strengthening and Capacity Building of the National Early Warning Response Group (EWRG).”
The event, organised by the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in collaboration with Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG), a project of the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), was described as a reflection of the strong bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
It also underscored the importance of deepening collaboration among members of the National Early Warning Response Group to build an effective Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) system.
The Minister noted that the initiative demonstrates stakeholders’ commitment to preventing conflict, building resilience, enhancing security, promoting regional cooperation, and supporting socio-economic development in Nigeria and across Africa.
He stressed the importance of a comprehensive and data-driven EWER system in addressing contemporary peace and security challenges, including political instability, banditry, terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational organised crime.
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According to him, climate change and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons continue to exacerbate insecurity and undermine livelihoods, particularly in the Sahel and other parts of Africa.
Ambassador Tuggar reaffirmed that Nigeria has continued to adopt strategic measures to confront these threats in line with President Bola Tinubu’s 4-D Foreign Policy Doctrine, which prioritises development, diaspora engagement, demography, and democracy, while promoting regional stability and global peace.
He further highlighted Nigeria’s proactive role in responding to political crises across the continent, noting that such interventions reflect the country’s leadership in peace and security matters in Africa.
The Minister expressed confidence that the capacity-building engagement would strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, improve early warning reporting, and enhance timely responses within the peace and security ecosystem.
He added that the diverse participation at the session would contribute to the long-term effectiveness of the National Conflict Early Warning and Early Response System (NCEWERS) of the IPCR.