ECOWAS Donates N26m In Support Of Children Affected By Armed Conflict In Plateau

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Permanent Mission in Nigeria has presented a cheque of N26 million to the Plateau state Government in support of children affected by armed conflict in some communities in the state.

ECOWAS’ Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Dr. Sintiki Ugbe presented the cheque to the state government at a two-day workshop on ‘Humanitarian, Development and Peace (HDP) Nexus and Children Affected by Armed Conflict in some Communities’, holding in Jos, Plateau State capital.

According to Dr Ugbe, the support will provide critical relief in the area of educational materials and school fees to restore access to learning and hope for the future of the children.

Ugbe said the gesture was also to support with nutritional food items to combat hunger and promote healthy development, essential household items to help families rebuild their lives with dignity and health as well as the ensure children’s well-being and restore their sense of safety.

She urged the international community to unite and support those impacted by humanitarian crises, by empowering local communities and recognised them as active partners, not just recipients, with the tools and voice to shape their futures.

According to her, “This kind of partnership is not only commendable but essential,” adding that “by embracing the HDP Nexus, they are committed to a new way of working that breaks down silos and builds bridges.

“We are saying that humanitarian aid must not only save lives but lay the foundation for development.”

In his remarks, the Minister of State Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction Dr. Yusuf Sununu who was represented by the Deputy Director Humanitarian Affairs, Yakubu Adamu, commended the ECOWAS Commission for its tireless efforts in funding and delivering humanitarian assistance across Nigeria.

He pointed out that the partnership with ECOWAS reflects a shared commitment to protecting displaced populations and supporting vulnerable groups—particularly women and children.

Also speaking, the Director General, Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PSPBA), Julie Sanda, maintained that the State Government has remained committed to addressing the humanitarian dimensions of the conflict with the by setting up of a fact-finding committee and another on displacement to assess the scale of humanitarian needs across affected communities.

She stated that findings from the report released in May 2025, revealed that 31,729 households had been displaced across Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Mangu, and Riyom local government areas.

The DG further disclosed that the staggering figure does not include more recent violence in Mushere in Bokkos LGA or the chronic, but under-reported displacements in Quan’an Pan, Kanam, and Wase LGAs.

According to her, a PPBA-led assessment has documented that some of the ancestral lands of displaced persons have now been occupied by bandits, further complicating prospects for safe return and reconciliation.

For his part, the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Arc Samuel Jatau, represented by the Permanent Secretary in his office, Timothy Gayi, pledged that the state government will implement the recommendations of the fact-finding committee on Jos crises as part of efforts to halt decades of orchestrated attacks that have claimed innocent lives in rural communities.