ARTICLE AD
Adamawa state government has stated that it will soon establish a peace commission to build on the gains of the COMITAS project, an initiative, that the state extolled for bringing a reduction in violent clashes involving farmers and herders over natural resources.
The Governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Fintiri, on Tuesday at the close-out ceremony of COMITAS II, said socio-economic activities in the state were now progressing in conflict communities compared to previous years.
The governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Edgar Amos, attributed the development to the search for a common ground peace initiative and its effort at finding sustainable solutions to violent conflict between farmers and herders over natural resources.
Speaking earlier, at the handing over of COMITAS II structures to the Adamawa State Government, the Search for Common Ground Country Director, Fatima Abubakar, said the “COMITAS project has brought about a reduction of violent conflict”, in thei state.
According to her, in previous years the dispute between farmers and herders has escalated into a violent conflict of attacks and reprisals causing loss of lives and properties.
Edgar, in his remarks, extolled Search’s intervention in finding sustainable solutions through its activities in conflict communities, promising to build upon it, by establishing a peace commission that would assume all the structures the NGO was handing over to the government as the project finally winds up.
He said, ” We thank Search for Common Ground for enhancing socio-economic activity in conflict communities and helping the state to move forward through its effort at finding sustainable solutions to violent conflict between farmers and herders over natural resources.
“We would continue to invest in peacebuilding, and the security of lives of our people by supporting both arable farmers and livestock farmers to embrace modern production techniques that would reduce pressure on land and take advances in science and technology. We are empowering them to embrace climate resilience and our peace commission will soon take off.
“In our security council meetings, we have charged our traditional rulers and tasked them to ensure peace within their domains. The state will continue to build on the success of the COMITAS project and utilize the lessons that have been learnt.”
The COMITAS project implemented by a consortium of Search for Common Ground, International Organisation on Migration, and Mercy Corps, with funding from the European Union, aims at tackling conflicts over natural resources between farmer and herder communities in Adamawa and Taraba States.
The project, which is ending by January 15, 2025, has benefitted and impacted 32 conflict-prone communities across 7 local government areas of Adamawa and 2 council areas in Taraba.