Farmer/Herder: Kefas lauds SFCG, EU, others for COMITAS II project in Taraba
“Stakeholders appeal for extension”
OKERAFOR ATHANATIUS, JALINGO
As COMITAS II project comes to a close in Taraba State, the State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas has commended the implementing partners of Search for Common Ground (SFCG), European Union (EU), Mercy Corps, among others for successfully contributing to the mitigation of conflicts and peace building among farmer and herder communities in the State.
Kefas, represented by the chairman, peace and conflict management in the State, Bishop Innocent Solomon made the commendation on Thursday while delivering a key note address on the occasion of COMITAS close out event, knowledge sharing and handover of SFCG’s peace structures to the State government.
The event held at the conference hall of Grand Shield Hotel in Jalingo, the governor explained that SFCG’s peace initiative as evidenced in all parts of the State, Zing and Lau local government areas in particular are enormous and are highly commendable.
He further assured that the Bureau for peace and conflict management constituted by his administration will collaborate with the initiative and other networks for peace in the State.
“The high profiled peace experienced across the State was attributed to this initiative, as evidenced here and in accordance with the testimonies in this event. These are enormous and are highly commendable”,
“It’s in the same spirit and commitment that the Bureau for Peace was constituted and I want to assure you that the institution will collaborate with all networks in the State for peace”, he added.
In a remark, the Country Director SFCG Nigeria, Hajiya Fatima Abubakar told the gathering that the structures, “Peace Architecture Dialogue (PAD), Community Response Network (CRN), and Community Security Architecture Dialogue (CSAD)” about to be handed over to the state government are parts of the weapons SFCG used while mitigating conflicts in some crisis prone areas or communities in Taraba.
Haj. Abubakar however, lauded the efforts of the State government more especially the Chairmen of Zing and Lau Local government areas for cooperating with SFCG through out the COMITAS II project in their various localities.
According to her, SFCG was able to successfully complete COMITAS II project in the two local government areas, which resulted to the structures about to be handed over due to the resilience, support and cooperation garnered from the rural dwellers.
“The COMITAS II project really achieved greatness in the two targeted local government areas and also impacted peacefully on the lives of the people of the State”, she said.
The Commissioner of Police, Taraba State command, CP Ukachi P. Opara who was represented testified the positive impact of COMITAS II project in addressing security issues across the State.
Worried that the COMITAS II project was not implemented in Yorro, the chairperson of the Local Government Hon. Martina Anthony still commended the partners, saying the project did a lot of work and should be extended to her local government area.
Highlights of the occasion, our Correspondent gathered were; official Commissioning of COMITAS publication and presentations of the structures, Cultural dances from the two local government areas of Zing and Lau, among others.
