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From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) has launched the Early Warning Early Response (EWER) Strategy and Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for Benue State.
The launch is a crucial step towards addressing existing gaps in the identification of early warning signals and the response to factors that exacerbate conflicts.
Launching the project on Thursday in Makurdi, the State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, said a well-articulated EWER and SoPs would provide a structured framework for responding to alerts in crisis-prone areas in the state.
Alia, who was represented by his Deputy, Sam Ode, described the plan as a long-term strategy aimed at addressing insecurity through coordination, information sharing and timely response and expressed commitment to its implementation.
He said Benue has already taken a practical step by developing a command and control centre at the Benue State Emergency Management Agency to coordinate early warning analysis, verification and response management across the state.
He directed all relevant institutions and agencies connected to EWER and SoPs to align with the command and control centre and to continually review and refine its operational framework.
The governor, who acknowledged the traditional institutions as the custodians of the people, traditions and culture, said they should be factored in and assigned marked roles to ensure a seamless implementation.
In her keynote address, former Vice Chancellor, Father Adasu University, Makurdi, Prof Charity Angya, said the launch was a declaration of intent that Benue was determined to effectively coordinate peace architecture to avert avoidable loss of lives and property.
“The HD has provided technical support and global experience. But sustainability rests with Benue State. Government must own it. Security agencies must trust it. Communities must believe in it. Civil society must monitor it. The success of this strategy will not be measured by today’s applause but by the crises that never happen.”
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Angya noted that Benue has known too much grief, urging all stakeholders to choose prevention over reaction, coordination over fragmentation and systems over improvisation.
Earlier, the Country Director, HD Nigeria, Dr. Chris Agoha recalled that Benue State has long been plagued by resource-based conflicts, banditry, and rising criminality, adding that the inadequacies of existing EWER systems to effectively report and respond to early warning signals are major contributors to escalating violence.
He named challenges such as poor coordination, delayed reporting, and inadequate legal and policy frameworks as factors hindering the impact of current initiatives.
Agoha said the project aims to address the structures and systems of EWER in Benue State by strengthening coordination, transparency, and accountability.
He said, “By establishing clear, actionable protocols, the project aspires to break the cycle of violence and rebuild community trust in EWER systems. A comprehensive and institutionalised EWER SOP will incentivise and reward best practices in EWER implementation.
“To ensure the relevance and practicality of the 2026-2029 EWER Strategy and SOPs developed by HD, a ‘bottom-up’ methodological approach was adopted. This drew insights and recommendations from
Stakeholder consultations and framework development workshops were conducted across the three senatorial zones of Benue State, leading to state-level engagement with key stakeholders.
Agoha stated that “in the ever-evolving global landscape of peace and security, the need for swift and effective response mechanisms towards conflict prevention cannot be overstated. EWER systems play a crucial role in identifying and mitigating conflicts before they spiral out of control, reducing destruction and promoting sustainable peace.”
The EWER project is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under the Strengthening Peace and Resilience (SPRiNG) Programme.
