By Naanpoe kwaplong
The porous nature of Nigeria’s borders has been identified as one of the major security threats exposing communities to human trafficking, arms smuggling, and cross-border crimes.
This was made known by the Plateau State Deputy Governor, Josephine Piyo, at a roundtable of state and non-state actors organized by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, in collaboration with GIZ and the Plateau State Peace Building Agency in Jos.
The multi-level, multi-sectoral roundtable with state and non-state actors aims to build a sustainable peace architecture in Plateau State.
One of its key objectives is to analyze the causes and dynamics of cross-border conflicts, including farmer-herder tensions, land disputes, and organized crime by examining the related environmental, socio-economic, governance, and cultural factors.
Plateau State Deputy Governor Josephine Piyo, who acknowledged the positive contributions of the partnering agencies to peacebuilding efforts, maintained that for peace to be sustained, all actors must collaborate to mitigate cross-border threats and other emerging security challenges.
Delivering an overview of the peace and security landscape in Plateau State, the Special Envoy on Peace and Security, Professor Chris Kwaja, noted that illegal mining activities have fueled insecurity by creating informal economies often linked to conflict, environmental degradation, and youth exploitation.
He further called for strengthened border surveillance, enhanced intelligence sharing among border states, and the reinforcement of local peace mechanisms to ensure conflicts are resolved through dialogue rather than violence.
Earlier, in a welcome address, the Country Manager of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Dr. Chris Agoha, said that Nigeria’s diversity, though a source of strength, has also presented challenges.
He reiterated that the goal is to manage this diversity through the implementation of inclusive state policies that promote peace and social cohesion.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Dr. Julie Sanda, represented by Mr. Joseph Nantip, stated that the roundtable would further address issues bedeviling the state and help foster lasting peace across Plateau.
Edited by Karen keyen
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