The peace project newly launched by International Alert aimed at securing sustained peace for the crises-weary people of Ochologba and Egba Communities of Agatu as well as Fiidi Community in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State would hopefully bring enduring peace and cause residents to, at long last, heave a sigh of relief after the destructive climate change-related crises that have ravaged their beleaguered communities for years.
Addressing stakeholders at the launch of the novel peace project, Country Director of International Alert, Mr. Paul Nyulaku explained that the project tagged, “Powering Peace through Climate Change” being implemented by his organisation in partnership with the Benue State Office for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and funded by the Government of Ireland through Irish Aid, would be people-driven with direct inputs by actual stakeholders involved in the conflict.
Mr. Nyulaku who pointed out the palpable impact of climate change on agriculture and peace, disclosed that the “consultative project would engage actual stakeholders in the targeted communities” who would lead the discourse on the root cause of the conflict in their various communities and help fashion out home-made solutions to bring peace.
He affirmed that International Alert would only play supportive roles such as provision of seed grants to support innovative enterprises that solve any of the intractable climate change-related problems causing the conflict and providing publicity about what farmers do in order to attract more donor support for their work among others.
The Country Director expressed optimism that should the goal of the pilot phase be achieved, the programme would be upscaled and expanded to other troubled communities whose crisis could be traced to the global climate change challenge.
Two Second Class traditional rulers, Chief Godwin Onah (the Ada’Agatu and Chairman of Agatu Area Traditional Council) and Chief Vincent Awule (Ter Makurdi) whose communities both bear the brunt of these crises averred that peace was paramount for development to thrive in the society and charged their subjects to work for peace which remains one of the best legacies to bequeath to coming generations.
Giving an overview of the entire peace project, Program Manager of International Alert, Anicetus Atakpu emphasized that “the project does not speaking to all kinds of conflicts but primarily conflicts driven by the effect of climate change”. He explained that the 2-year project which was kick-started in November 2022 would be taking place simultaneously in 2 States in Nigeria (Benue and Sokoto) across 4 Local Government Areas and 8 communities in the country.
Aimed at mobilising climate adaptation action by engaging communities to use and improve on their coping mechanisms, Mr. Atakpu maintained that the peace project targets mobilising adaptation as a neutral entry point “to bring divided and marginalized communities together to make climate action more inclusive and conflict sensitive in Benue and Sokoto States”.
He pointed out that the project would intervene at 3 levels: Individual, Community and Government primarily targeting marginalized women, youth and traditional leaders who are custodians of communities as well as State and Local Government Council officials.
The Program Manager who said International Alert would be working with 3 partners in Benue State, 2 in Sokoto and the media, enjoined all parties to play their part to enable the project achieve its three outcomes of “bringing about inclusive climate governance, awareness trust and learning and global influencing”.
Officially launching the project, the Benue State Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Dr. Godwin Oyiwona encouraged people to adapt to climate change challenge by embracing “climate smart agriculture” which entails planting crops in bags loaded with soil around the home, practicing drone farming and greenhouse farming.
Chairman of Agatu Local Government Council, Hon. Peter Joseph Ngbede who was expressly excited about the peace project admitted that the Council had already resorted to seeking external help to quell the Agatu crisis having exhaused all internal options.
Delivering goodwill messages, representatives of Civil Society Organisations, security agencies and government agencies pledged their commitment to the success of the peace project to bring about enduring peace and progress for the communities of concern, the entire state and country at large.
Swift Media World 