NSRP advocates dialogue in reducing grievances By JIDAUNA DARING A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) has organized a one-day workshop for a high level stakeholders on the use of dialogue mechanism in order to reduce grievances around land and water use in Plateau State held at the Lamonde Hotel, Jos, The NSRP is a United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID), funded programme aimed at supporting Nigerian stakeholders in managing conflict4 non-violently and reducing the negative impact of violent conflict, being implemented in 8 conflict prone states by the British Council in partnership with International Alert and Social Development Direct. Economic and Natural Resources Manager, Mr Olumide Olaniyan disclosed that, the programme was organized to discuss the issues of policies and laws that could help strengthen the issue of shared natural resources in Nigeria, which he said was focusing on Plateau State, adding that, the conflict programme had been for over 2 years, working in 8 states across the 4 regions of the country. Mr. Olaniyan maintained that, a key area of NSRP’s intervention was centred on addressing grievances around youth employment and resource competition, especially over land and water use. He said that, significantly, NSRP, through its civil society partner, was working in 6 selected communities of Jos North, Wase and Bokkos Local Government Areas (LGAs), supporting them to establish or resuscitate dialogue mechanism, conflict resolution committees, capable of preventing or resolving conflicts emanating from the use of and access to land and water in their respective communities. He further explained that, their NGO is interested in states that are mostly affected by conflict because the NSRP goals was to reduce violence in Nigeria, especially violence that are being driven by issues that mostly affected us as a nation adding, that, the NGO look at the coordination of government and civil society organization (CSO) around the issue of conflict. In his opening remarks, Programme Manager, NSRP, Dr. Ukoha Ukiwo said that as a resident of Plateau State he is familiar with the rising incidents of violent conflicts directly or reportedly linked to competition over the use of water and grazing land, adding that, NSRP, right from its inception has made a commitment towards intervention in such areas. Dr. Ukiwo while speaking on mapping study opined that the mapping studies would enable them to identify opportunities for engagement, stressing that, NSRP recognizes the existing agencies of government institutions, civil society groups that have mandate or legitimacy to address conflict issue, saying that, the mission of NSRP was to facilitate the efforts of different agencies, adding that, the NGO also provided grand’s to civil society groups to work in some specific LGAs in the state. The workshop featured paper presentations in existing Federal, State and Local Government Laws on the use of shared natural resources and gender in Nigeria, Ms Benedicta Daber- Executive Director, JDPC through Eugene Saidu, roles of the ministry of Land, Survey and Housing on land use and conflict prevention in Plateau State. Architect Yilji M.J Gomwalk, Commissioner, Land, Survey and Housing, Plateau State through a director in the Ministry Mr. Solomon.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 09:51:11 +0000