Taraba State Achieves Milestone with COMITAS Project’s Peace Structures Handover
By Raymond Enoch
Taraba State has reached a significant milestone in its pursuit of sustainable peace and conflict resolution through the official handover of peace structures established under the COMITAS project.
The event, held on Thursday in Jalingo, showcased the success of the initiatives in fostering harmony and mitigating conflicts across the state.
Hajiya Fatima Abubakar, the Country Director of Search for Common Ground (SFCG), Nigeria, described the structures as critical platforms for promoting peaceful coexistence. These include the Peace Architecture Dialogue (PAD), Community Response Network (CRN), and Community Security Architecture Dialogue (CSAD), which are part of the Early Warning, Early Response (EWER) strategy for addressing conflicts constructively.
Speaking at the event, Abubakar emphasized that the handover symbolizes both the achievements of the COMITAS project and 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, which has extended to 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 stated.
She also noted key successes of the project, including the reopening of the Mayolope and Zing cattle markets, and urged the state government to take proactive measures to preserve the established peace structures.
Stakeholders at the event, including council chairmen, State House of Assembly members, and top government officials, commended the efforts of the European Union, SFCG, and other implementing partners. They also advocated for the project to be extended to other local government areas through a third phase of COMITAS.
The state government pledged to build on the success of these initiatives, ensuring that the peace and stability achieved in Zing and Lau are replicated throughout Taraba State.
As observed by our correspondent, the event underscored the power of collaboration and local leadership in sustaining peace. It left many hopeful for the continued success of these efforts in Taraba and beyond.
