Bukola Afeni
Stakeholders in the Development sector and community observers have emphasized the need for institutionalising peace parameters in conflict prevention.
The group added that conflict signals are driven by varied indicators observed under natural, cooperative and conflictual events.
The participants in a communique signed by the Executive Director, CISLAC/TI-Nigeria, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), and two representatives of community observers named, Salome Augustine and Ahmad Muhammad Zayyad, said there is a need to understand critical stakeholders.
“Understanding the criticality of inter-connected key stakeholders, geographical target and gender inclusion is essential.
Inadequate gender mainstreaming in community-based Early Warning efforts widens existing disparity in response systems and processes.
The workshop was aimed at building the capacity of community observers in Nasarawa state and FCT for more collaboration, communication, coordination and collective support for early warning and conflict prediction mechanisms, which are central in conflict prevention.
The participants highlighted the need to identify a credible and reputable system or authority to relate Early Warning signals to prevent potential associated risk and retaliation.
“We need to form a formidable force through community network building on Early Warning signal reporting to avert breach of trust and facilitate collective actions that drive confidential response.
” There is a need to identify appropriate institutions or stakeholders for targeted information on Early Warning signals for appropriate response while promoting inter-agency cooperation among responders.
The coordinator of the Peace and Security Department of CISLAC, Bertha Ogbimi, said her organization acts as the middleman for people at the grassroots.
“In some cases, people at the grassroots (bottom) are unable to get across to the people higher up, therefore needing a middleman to get across there for them.
CISLAC acts as the middleman in that instance. CISLAC has various thematic areas (areas of focus).
Ogbimi added that from 2009 till date, Nigeria has been experiencing multidimensional security challenges ranging from banditry terrorist attacks to kidnapping.
