The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) and peace advocacy stakeholders have called for collective efforts to address rising conflicts in Nigeria.
During a two-day training session in Abuja focused on the Early Warning Response Group (EWRG) for conflict resolution, participants emphasized the need for a united approach to conflict prevention.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Steve Agbo, Deputy Director of Research for National Conflict Early Warning and Response, highlighted the importance of early intervention. “This project aims to strengthen Nigeria’s early warning and early response system to achieve sustainable peace through conflict prevention. Our research has shown that lack of timely response is a key factor contributing to the ongoing conflicts in Nigeria,” Agbo stated. He further noted the importance of the EWRG, a group established in 2003, which combines security and non-security personnel from various agencies and is now operational in nine Nigerian states.
Mr. Oguntayo Olayinka, a Chief Superintendent with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), remarked that the training had enhanced participants’ ability to understand conflict dynamics and develop more effective solutions. He noted, “By identifying the needs and interests of conflicting parties, stakeholders can better analyze and resolve disputes.”
The workshop, which included representatives from top-level security agencies such as the DSS, NSCDC, FRSC, NEMA, and the Nigeria Police, aimed to create a collaborative framework that addresses the root causes of conflict. Organized by the IPCR in partnership with the Peace Action for Rapid and Transformative Nigeria Early Response (PARTNER) and supported by USAID, the initiative is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s conflict prevention strategies.
Agbo also referenced the UN-World Bank report Pathways for Peace, stressing that violent conflicts have increased since 2010, underscoring the need for modern conflict prevention mechanisms like the Early Warning and Response System (EWRS). The training is expected to improve the capacity of stakeholders to prevent the escalation of violence and foster sustainable peace across the nation.
