Global Peace Development (GPD) has launched a major peacebuilding initiative aimed at addressing the decades-long farmers–herders conflict in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna and Katsina States.
The project, titled Promoting Agropastoralism Reconciliation and Resilience for Sustainable Livelihood and Peace (PARSULP), is being implemented under the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme with funding support from Tetra Tech and UKAID and the strategic supervision of ActionAid Nigeria.
The launch, held at Hotel 17 in Kaduna, brought together government officials, security agencies, development partners and community stakeholders to deliberate on collaborative solutions to the persistent conflict over land and water resources.
Executive Director of GPD, Ebruke Onajite Esike, said the initiative represents “an important step toward transforming one of the most persistent challenges in northern Nigeria into an opportunity for peacebuilding, resilience, and sustainable development.”
He noted that the farmers–herders clashes have displaced thousands and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s estimated 3.6 million internally displaced persons—more than the combined toll of ISWAP and Boko Haram.
Esike said the PARSULP Project will directly benefit 4,410 individuals and indirectly impact over 19 million people across the four states through dialogue, reconciliation, climate-smart agriculture and agroforestry, and strengthened local peace structures.
“We conducted participatory rural appraisals in 45 wards, which produced the Community Peace and Resilience Plans we are unveiling today.
“Our objective is to rebuild trust, strengthen grassroots peace structures, and improve livelihoods through cooperation rather than competition.”he said.
In a goodwill message, the General Manager of Kaduna State Agricultural Development Agency (KADA), Malam Muhammad A. Rili, said the project aligns with Governor Uba Sani’s priority of promoting peace and agricultural development.
“His Excellency has consistently emphasized that meaningful development can only thrive where peace prevails. The PARSULP project fits perfectly into that vision,” he said.
Rili commended the project’s focus on inclusive dialogue, resource management and the integration of women and youth in peacebuilding, stressing that it supports Kaduna State’s long-term agricultural goals.
Representing the Commissioner of Police, CSP Aliyu Hassan described the intervention as timely and complementary to ongoing community policing strategies.
“Anywhere you talk of peace, there must be conflict. And when you talk of conflict, there must be security. The police are the lead agency in internal security, and our doors are open to support initiatives like this,” he said.
Providing a technical breakdown of the initiative, GPD Project Manager, Danjuma Mohammed, said the project builds on years of community mediation and climate security work.
“We seek to improve dialogue and mediation between farmers and pastoralists. What dialogue cannot say to you, conflict can never say to you,” he stated.
He added that the project will strengthen not replace traditional governance systems, while promoting climate-smart agriculture to enhance productivity and resilience.
Stakeholders at the event unanimously reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation, peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity as foundations for long-term stability in northern Nigeria.
