The Kaduna State Government, in partnership with UKAID and other development organisations, launched a major intervention aimed at addressing the persistent farmers–herders conflict and strengthening community resilience across four northern states.
The initiative, known as the Promoting Agropastoralism, Reconciliation and Resilience for Sustainable Livelihood and Peace (PARSULP) project, is being implemented under the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme. The project covers Benue, Plateau, Kaduna and Katsina states.
Speaking at the launch, the General Manager of the Kaduna State Agricultural Development Agency (KADA), Muhammad A. Rili, said the initiative aligns strongly with the state’s commitment to agricultural development and peace-building.
Rili noted that Governor Uba Sani’s administration has repeatedly emphasised that sustainable development cannot thrive in an atmosphere devoid of peace.
“This intervention will support ongoing efforts to reduce tensions between farmers and herders, promote dialogue, and strengthen community structures for conflict prevention,”
he said.
He added that sustainable resource management and the inclusion of women and youth would remain central pillars of the programme. He assured that the state government, through KADA, would collaborate closely with development partners to ensure effective implementation.
Project Aims to Turn Conflict Into Cooperation
Earlier, the Executive Director of Global Peace Development (GPD), Ebruke Onajite Esike, said the PARSULP project seeks to transform recurring agro-pastoral conflicts into opportunities for cooperation, resilience, and sustainable development.
He noted that violent confrontations over land and water have displaced thousands of people and eroded social cohesion across the region for many years.
He added that farmers–herders clashes have significantly contributed to Nigeria’s 3.6 million internally displaced persons.
