Taraba State has marked a significant milestone in its journey toward sustainable peace and conflict resolution with the official handover of peace structures established under the COMITAS project.
The event, held on Thursday in Jalingo, highlighted the success of the initiatives in fostering harmony and mitigating conflicts in the entire axis of the state.
The Country Director of Search for Common Ground (SFCG), Nigeria, Hajiya Fatima Abubakar, described the structures as critical platforms for promoting peaceful coexistence.
Among them are the Peace Architecture Dialogue (PAD), Community Response Network (CRN), and Community Security Architecture Dialogue (CSAD). These initiatives, she explained, are part of the Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) strategy aimed at addressing conflicts constructively.
Abubakar emphasized that the handover celebrates not only the achievements of the COMITAS project but also the importance of local ownership in sustaining peacebuilding efforts.
She highlighted the project’s significant impact on communities in Zing and Lau local government areas and, by extension, the entire state.
“The COMITAS project has created a robust network of stakeholders who consistently share early warning information with security agencies and government officials. This collaboration has deepened trust and fostered a culture of vigilance and collective responsibility for peace,” Abubakar said.
She also noted notable achievements of the project, including the reopening of the Mayolope and Zing cattle markets, and called on the state government to take proactive measures to maintain the established peace structures.
Stakeholders at the event, including council chairmen, members of the State House of Assembly, and top government officials, applauded the efforts of the European Union, SFCG, and other implementing partners.
They urged the organizations to extend the project to other local government areas by initiating a third phase of COMITAS.
The state government pledged to build on the success of the initiatives and ensure that the peace and stability achieved in Zing and Lau are replicated across Taraba State.
The event, as observed by our state correspondent, underscored the power of collaboration and local leadership in sustaining peace, leaving many hopeful for the continued success of these efforts in Taraba and beyond.
By Charles Akpeji