Northern States Aim for Enhanced Security Cooperation at Jos Conference

In a bid to tackle the escalating insecurity in northern Nigeria, security and peacebuilding stakeholders from four states have called for enhanced collaboration and improvements to early warning systems.

The appeal was made during a significant dialogue in Jos, which included participants from Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, and Plateau States.

This meeting was organized by the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE) along with the UK-funded Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) program and the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency (PSPBA).

During the gathering, the discussions focused on improving coordination among state actors, bolstering early warning and response measures, and advocating for community-based approaches to emerging security issues.

Participants shared their experiences from the field and assessed lessons learned from current interventions, concentrating on identifying actionable strategies for cross-border collaboration.

Officials highlighted that this engagement builds on ongoing efforts to enhance conflict prevention systems.

Through the SPARCS initiative, OSPRE has trained over 300 individuals across the Northwest and North-central regions since 2025, equipping them to recognize and respond to early indicators of conflict.

Ukoha Ukiwo, the SPRING Team Lead, emphasized the importance of collaboration among government entities, communities, and development partners. He remarked, “It is essential to strengthen local capacities and foster peer learning platforms, enabling the creation of systems that can prevent conflict before it escalates.”

Chris Ngwodo, the director general of OSPRE, stressed that Nigeria's security challenges demand a coordinated approach across all governmental tiers. “No single level of government can tackle today’s security dilemmas alone. What is necessary is a unified framework that merges local insights with national resources,” he noted.

He also acknowledged the support from the UK government in enhancing peacebuilding efforts.

Julie Sanda, the Director General of the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency, praised the initiative, urging for continuous institutional partnerships to expand successful community interventions.

As part of the event, participants visited Operation Rainbow, Plateau State's security agency, engaging with personnel on aspects of community-based security coordination, intelligence gathering, and rapid response methods.

At the conclusion of the dialogue, attendees resolved to fortify inter-state collaboration, institutionalize peer learning networks, and advance early warning systems to foster sustainable peace in the region.

OSPRE serves as Nigeria's national coordinating center for early warning and response, striving to anticipate and mitigate emerging security threats using data-driven strategies.