OSPRE, Partners Intensify Efforts To Tackle Insecurity In Northern States

By Najib Sani, Gombe

The Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), in partnership with the UK-funded Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria Programme (SPRING) and the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency (PSPBA) has hosted a high-level consultative and peer learning dialogue with security officials and peacebuilding actors from Benue, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau States to strengthen collaboration and address shared security challenges.

The event held in Jos, Plateau State, aimed to share experiences and strategies for tackling insecurity in the crises-ridden states.

Director General of OSPRE, Chris Ngwodo, emphasised the need for a collaborative approach, stating that no single tier of government could address today’s security challenges in isolation.

He said the event forms part of “ongoing efforts to strengthen subnational coordination, enhance early warning systems, and promote adaptive, locally driven responses to evolving threats.

According to him, in 2025, OSPRE, through its SPARCS programme, has trained over 300 men and women across the north-west and north-central zones on detecting, analysing, and responding to conflict risks in real time.

The Director General expressed deep appreciation to SPRING and the Government of the United Kingdom for “their continued support to peacebuilding and resilience efforts in Nigeria”.

“No single tier of government can address today’s security challenges in isolation. What is required is a coherent, collaborative framework that aligns local knowledge with national capabilities,” he stated.

The Team Lead for SPRING, Dr Ukoha Ukiwo, underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between government institutions, communities and development partners in addressing the complex drivers of insecurity.

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He noted that strengthening local capacities and fostering peer learning platforms such as “this dialogue” are essential to building resilient systems capable of preventing conflict before escalation.

For her part, the Director General of Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency, Julie Sanda commended OSPRE and SPRING for their sustained commitment to fostering peace and stability in Plateau State and the wider north.

She called for expanded collaboration to scale successful interventions and deepen impact at the community level.