Four Nigerian States Unite in Jos for High-Level Security Dialogue
The Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), in collaboration with the UK-funded Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) programme and the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency (PSPBA), has organized a significant consultative and peer-learning dialogue. This event aimed to address escalating insecurity across Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau states, bringing together key stakeholders in Jos, Plateau State, to foster coordinated efforts.
Coordinated Approach to Complex Security Challenges
During the dialogue, Director-General of OSPRE, Chris Ngwodo, underscored the necessity for a unified and collaborative framework to tackle Nigeria's intricate security issues. He emphasized that no single level of government can effectively manage these challenges alone, highlighting the event as part of broader initiatives to enhance subnational coordination, improve early warning systems, and support adaptive, locally driven responses to evolving threats.
Ngwodo revealed that through OSPRE's SPARCS programme, over 300 participants from the North-West and North-Central zones were trained in 2025 on real-time conflict risk detection, analysis, and response. He expressed gratitude to SPRING and the United Kingdom Government for their ongoing support to peacebuilding and resilience efforts in Nigeria, reinforcing the importance of aligning local insights with national capabilities.
Sustained Collaboration and Local Capacity Building
Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, Team Lead for SPRING, stressed the critical role of continuous collaboration among government bodies, communities, and development partners in addressing the root causes of insecurity. He pointed out that strengthening local capacities and establishing peer-learning platforms, such as this dialogue, are essential for developing resilient systems that can prevent conflicts from escalating.
Julie Sanda, Director-General of the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency, praised OSPRE and SPRING for their dedication to promoting peace and stability in Plateau State and the wider northern region. She advocated for expanded cooperation to scale successful interventions and deepen their impact at the community level, ensuring sustainable security solutions.
This high-level meeting marks a proactive step towards fostering peace and resilience, with participants committing to ongoing dialogue and action to mitigate insecurity in the affected states.
