By
Akanta Hannah
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says it has made remarkable strides in resolving resource-related disputes in Adamawa and Taraba states through its Contributing to the Mitigation of Conflict over Natural Resources (COMITAS) project.
The organisation revealed this during its lessons learnt and sustainability workshop held in Yola the Adamawa State Capital.
IOM, in collaboration with Search for Common Ground and Mercy Corp with sponsorship from the European Union, has contributed to the mitigation of conflict over natural resources between farmers and herders in Demsa, Girei, Numan, Lamurde, Mayo-Belwa, Guyuk, and Shelleng LGAs of Adamawa state, and in Lau and Zing LGAs of Taraba State.
In his presentation, COMITAS Project Numan Team Lead, Aliyu Abdullahi, said in the past 24 months, the organization has successfully resolved over 2,500 disputes, promoting peace and peaceful coexistence among farmers and herders.
According to him, initiatives such as intra – and inter-group dialogue, establishment of community response networks, capacity-building for natural resource management committees, media engagements, and film screenings have assisted in mitigating conflicts over natural resources.
He emphasised that despite the successes achieved by the implementation of the project, the project still faces challenges such as environmental degradation, resource scarcity, climate change, youth unemployment, and resource constraints.
Abdullahi pointed out that some of the lessons IOM has learnt in the course of implementing the project include the need for community ownership, incorporation of women, and marginalised groups in decision-making and leveraging the media to change conflict narratives.
Participants at the end of the workshop called for project sustainability, establishment of peace commission, and the integration of project findings into national policies.
The project’s impact in Adamawa and Taraba states is a testament to the power of collaborative efforts in promoting peace and resolving conflicts over natural resources.
