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From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
The Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE) has led a regional dialogue on peace and security in Jos, Plateau State, bringing together key stakeholders to strengthen collaboration across Nigeria’s North-Central and North-West regions.
The consultative and peer learning engagement, convened in partnership with the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Program (SPRING) and the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency (PSPBA), attracted security officials and peacebuilding actors from Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau States.
The dialogue focused on fostering inter-state coordination, enhancing early warning systems, and promoting locally driven responses to evolving security threats. It also provided a platform for participants to exchange practical experiences and align strategies for addressing shared challenges.
As part of its ongoing capacity-building initiatives, OSPRE disclosed that over 300 individuals across the North-West and North-Central zones have been trained since 2025 under its SPARCS program.
The training targets early warning and early response mechanisms, equipping participants with the tools to detect, analyze, and mitigate conflict risks in real time.
Speaking at the event, SPRING Team Lead, Ukoha Ukiwo, underscored the importance of sustained collaboration among government institutions, communities, and development partners. He noted that strengthening local capacities and institutionalizing peer learning platforms are critical to preventing conflicts before escalation.
In his remarks, OSPRE Director General, Chris Ngwodo, commended SPRING and the United Kingdom Government for their continued support to Nigeria’s peacebuilding efforts. He stressed the need for a coordinated, multi-level governance framework to address complex security challenges.
“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,” Ngwodo said.
Also speaking, PSPBA Director General, Julie Sanda, highlighted the role of institutional partnerships in sustaining peace and stability. She called for expanded collaboration to scale successful interventions and deepen impact at the community level.
A major highlight of the program was a peer learning visit to the operational facility of Operation Rainbow, where participants engaged with personnel on community-based security coordination, intelligence gathering, and rapid response mechanisms.
The dialogue concluded with a collective commitment by participating states to strengthen inter-state cooperation, institutionalize peer learning platforms, and enhance early warning and response systems as a foundation for sustainable peace and security in Nigeria.
