The Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), in partnership with the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) Programme and the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency (PSPBA), held a high-level regional dialogue aimed at enhancing collaboration on peace and security in Jos, Plateau State.
The consultative and peer-learning dialogue brought together key stakeholders from Nigeria’s north-central and north-west regions, along with security officials and peacebuilding practitioners from Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau states.
It provided a platform for the exchange of experiences, the sharing of lessons learned, and the development of coordinated strategies to address common security challenges.
The organisers stated that the dialogue was part of broader efforts to strengthen subnational coordination, improve early warning systems, and promote locally driven responses to emerging threats.
Since 2025, OSPRE, through its Safety, Peace and Resilience in Communities (SPARCS) Programme, has trained more than 300 individuals across the North-West and North-Central zones in early warning and response mechanisms.
According to OSPRE, the programme initiative has created a network of practitioners equipped to identify and respond to conflict risks in real time.
Speaking at the event, the SPRING team’s lead, Mr. Ukoha Ukiwo, stressed the need for sustained collaboration among government institutions, communities, and development partners to address the root causes of insecurity.
Mr Ukiwo noted that strengthening local capacity and promoting peer learning are critical to preventing conflicts before they escalate.
Also addressing participants, the Director-General of OSPRE, Mr Chris Ngwodo, commended SPRING and the United Kingdom government for their continued support for Nigeria’s peacebuilding efforts.
Mr. Ngwodo emphasised the importance of coordination across all levels of government and urged closer cooperation between federal, state, and local actors.
“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,” he said.
In her remarks, the Director-General of PSPBA, Mrs. Julie Sanda, praised the organisers for their commitment to peace and stability in the Plateau State and beyond, calling for expanded partnerships to scale up successful community-level interventions.
A major highlight of the programme was a peer-learning visit to the operational base of Operation Rainbow, where participants engaged with security personnel and gained first-hand insights into community-based security coordination, intelligence gathering, and rapid response systems.
The dialogue concluded with a collective commitment from participating states to strengthen interstate collaboration, institutionalise peerlearning platforms, and enhance early warning and response mechanisms as part of efforts to achieve sustainable peace and security in Nigeria.