Agency move to validate five years strategic plan to end conflict in Plateau
The resurgence of communal and farmers/herders conflicts hitherto bedevilling the once peaceful Plateau State, has however necessitated the move by the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA), to develop a Five Years Strategic Plan aimed at providing a lasting solution to the lingering tension.
Established through a legislative act and signed into law by the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, PPBA have the mandate to coordinate the activities of both state and non-state actors in conflict prevention and peace building.
Saddled with this responsibility, the Agency earlier in the year met in Akwanga, Nassarrawa State, to develop a sustainable strategic plan that will mitigate and put to rest the unnecessary crisis witnessed in Plateau.
Being a people oriented agency, PPBA, last week brought together virtually all stakeholders on peace building in the State, to have them peruse a developed strategic plan, with the aim of having their input, so as to have everyone carried along in the peace building process.
Speaking in an expanded section of a validation workshop graced by major stakeholders to brainstorm on key sections of the document before the final copy, which took place in Jos at the weekend, the Director General PPBA, Mr Joseph Lengmang, said, “citizen engagement in peace building process is key and therefore their support and cooperation becomes imperative as citizens have a very important responsibility to secure their lives.
“We are also seeking partnership with security outfits and other government establishments towards restoring peace and rebuilding mutual confidence among the Plateau populace for growth and development.
“The agency have also had series of consultations with relevant stakeholders in the State towards fine-tuning the peace process which we have already developed a five year strategic plan towards pursuing a set objective of rebuilding peace and reconciling communities for socioeconomic growth in the state”.
Lengmang also said since the validated document hopes to capture the interests of the people with regards to peace and security, it has however clearly outlined chains of activities that the agency would role out for the period of five years.
On his part, the State Government’s Director General, Research, Strategies and Documentation, Prof. John Wade, who was present at all the various sections of the workshop held for three days, said the strategic plan validation is timely, given that strategy is the process by which government political vision and policy is translated into programs and activities to deliver the desired outcomes and changes, he said.
However, one of it sponsors, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), said it dimmed it fit to partner with PPBA, knowing that without peace in the State the GIZ will not be able to fulfill its mandate of helping to improve the socioeconomic activities in Plateau.
Responding to questions from our correspondent, the GIZ State Office Coordinator in Plateau, Mr. Akuropo Omoware said “when PPBA approached us, we did not hesitate to collaborate with them because, we know that the agency is equipped with the needed structure to address the conflict situation in Plateau.
Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos
