The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has called for enhanced coordination between military and civilian actors to improve humanitarian access and civilian-led stabilization in conflict-affected areas. This appeal was made by UNDP’s Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elise Attafuah, during the opening of a five-day regional workshop in Abuja, aimed at training security force liaison officers and Monitoring & Evaluation staff on conflict sensitivity and inclusive security.
The workshop, organized in collaboration with the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), focused on reflecting on civil-military engagement experiences in stabilization efforts across the Lake Chad Basin and Liptako-Gourma regions. Attafuah, represented by Deputy Director of Operations Blessed Chimuruta, emphasized that security measures alone are insufficient for successful stabilization.
“Over the next three days, we will embark on a journey of reflection and learning, examining our civil-military engagement over the past five years,” said Attafuah. She highlighted the importance of working with local, national, and regional security forces to support communities involved in stabilization programs.
Dr. Nana Zakama, Senior Technical Adviser to the Deputy Governor of Borno, praised the UNDP’s efforts and reiterated Borno State’s commitment to restoring peace and rebuilding communities. She credited Governor Babagana Zulum’s leadership for strategic investments in security, livelihoods, housing, health, and social welfare.
Similarly, Retired General Dahiru Abdulsalam, Security Advisor to the Governor of Yobe, commended the regional stabilization efforts and expressed Yobe State’s continued collaboration with UNDP and other partners. He highlighted recent initiatives, such as the establishment of a security planning commission and the provision of vehicles to security forces, aimed at maintaining peace and security in the region.
The workshop aims to address the challenges and risks faced in conflict zones, particularly in border areas, and to share best practices for improving coordination between military and civilian entities.
