Community Dialogue to the Rescue (North-Central)

Nigeria’s North-central region is one of the most volatile and conflictual regions of the country. Comprising Benue, Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Niger states, the geopolitical zone is a melting pot of different ethnic and religious cultures and the meeting point between the southern and northern regions of the country. In the last two decades, some states in the North-central have witnessed incessant bouts of identity and resource conflicts which have claimed thousands of lives, displaced several more and destroyed huge investments and livelihoods.

These conflict situations have retarded development in the area and have also deepened distrust between the various ethnic and religious communities. In response, both federal and state governments have implemented policies to curtail conflicts and ensure peace restoration. These top-down stabilisation measures have achieved very little success over the years.

This edition of Nextier SPD Policy Weekly highlights how using a community dialogue approach could make a difference in restoring peace to the volatile North-central region.

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