NGO Seeks Collective Action Against Drivers Of Conflicts In North West

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), International Alert, in partnership with Global Peace Development, has called for collective action against drivers of conflict in the north-west region.

The country director, International Alert Nigeria (IAN), Dr. Paul Nyulaku who made the call yesterday at a one-day workshop for key stakeholders in Kaduna and Zamfara on ‘State-level Conflict, Justice and Stability Planning’ held in Kaduna said the aim was to delve into the root causes of conflict in the two states.

According to him, International Alert has established dialogue platforms in Kaduna and Zamfara that will deal with drivers of conflict and instability.

“It hope that this workshop will help communities to deal with insecurity in a more concerted manner with the local and state government.

“We have been operating in Kaduna and Zamfara states for the past one year, particularly in Chikun and Jama’a in Kaduna, and Tsafe and Birnin Magaji in Zamfara State. In all these locations we have established community dialogue platforms that have actually been making efforts to deal with the drivers of conflict and instabilities in those locations.

“To establish peace stability in those locations, we are using a modelling approach, this approach can be adopted and replicated across other states because this model is specific to what communities can play in addressing their issues and we call that plan that communities are developing as community justice and stability plans.

“The challenges are multi-sectoral that is why we are adopting a multi-dimensional approach in dealing with the issues,” he said.

The executive director of Global Peace Development, Mr  Esike Ebruke said that the overall objective was to ensure stability, safety and security for every person irrespective of where he/she comes from.

According to him, when justice system, the people and traditional system works, the society will be stable and peaceful.

Also, the executive director, Voluntary Aid Initiative, a local implementing partner for IAN in Zamfara State, Musa Umar called on the government to provide an enabling environment for survivors of Sexual and Gender Based-Violence (SGBV).

Umar also urged the government to adopt a local justice system where parties are called upon to dialogue and to embrace peace.