OSPRE and Partners Intensify Efforts to Tackle Insecurity in Northern States
The Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), in collaboration with key partners, has ramped up initiatives to combat insecurity across several northern Nigerian states. This effort involves a strategic partnership with the UK-funded Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Programme (SPRING) and the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency (PSPBA).
High-Level Dialogue in Jos
A significant consultative and peer learning dialogue was recently convened in Jos, Plateau State, bringing together security officials and peacebuilding actors from Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau States. The primary objective of this gathering was to foster stronger collaboration and develop unified strategies to address the persistent security challenges plaguing these crisis-affected regions.
Chris Ngwodo, the Director General of OSPRE, emphasized the critical need for a cooperative approach in tackling contemporary security threats. He asserted that no single level of government possesses the capacity to resolve these issues independently. Ngwodo highlighted that the event is a component of ongoing endeavors to enhance subnational coordination, improve early warning systems, and encourage adaptive, locally-led responses to evolving dangers.
Training and Capacity Building
Ngwodo revealed that in 2025, OSPRE, through its Strategic Preparedness and Resilience Capacity Strengthening (SPARCS) programme, successfully trained more than 300 individuals, including both men and women, across the north-west and north-central zones. This training focused on equipping participants with skills to detect, analyze, and respond to conflict risks in real time, thereby bolstering community resilience.
The Director General expressed profound gratitude to SPRING and the United Kingdom Government for their unwavering support of peacebuilding and resilience initiatives in Nigeria. He reiterated the necessity for a coherent, collaborative framework that effectively integrates local insights with national capabilities to achieve sustainable security solutions.
Importance of Sustained Collaboration
Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo, the Team Lead for SPRING, underscored the vital role of continuous collaboration among government institutions, local communities, and development partners in addressing the multifaceted drivers of insecurity. He pointed out that strengthening local capacities and establishing platforms for peer learning, such as this dialogue, are indispensable for constructing resilient systems capable of preventing conflicts before they escalate.
Julie Sanda, the Director General of the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency, commended OSPRE and SPRING for their dedicated commitment to promoting peace and stability in Plateau State and the broader northern region. She advocated for expanded cooperation to scale up successful interventions and deepen their impact at the grassroots community level, ensuring that peacebuilding efforts are both effective and far-reaching.
This concerted effort by OSPRE and its partners marks a proactive step towards mitigating insecurity and fostering a more secure environment in northern Nigeria, leveraging collective expertise and resources to address complex security dynamics.
