The Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience says it has successfully concluded a comprehensive capacity-building programme under its safety, peace, and resilience in communities project.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that project was in partnership with the UK’s Integrated Security Fund and the Neem Foundation. The initiative spanned eight local government areas across Anambra, Benue, Katsina, and Plateau states, aiming to strengthen early warning, response, and resilience systems at the grassroots level.
Training sessions covered conflict prevention, emergency preparedness, gender-sensitive security, and data analysis. Selected participants received training manuals, digital data collection tools, mobile phones, flashlights, and whistles to support community-based early warning, safety and response efforts.
This was contained in a press statement signed Hafsah Matazu, Programme Manager stating that the programme brought together various stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders, local government officials, community vigilance groups, and representatives of security agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Immigration Service, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Participating LGAs included Idemili North and Awka South in Anambra, Oju and Vandeikya in Benue, Batagarawa and Kurfi in Katsina, and Bokkos and Mangu in Plateau State.
Mr Chris Ngwodo, Director General of OSPRE said, “Embedding early warning, response, and resilience structures within local governments is part of our strategy to revitalise grassroots governance.
“Recovery and stabilisation must begin with restoring functionality to the third tier of government. Building peace starts from the ground up.”
Speaking at an After-Action Review Forum, Mr Ngwodo expressed gratitude to the UK Government for supporting the initiative and laying the foundations for safer communities.
Abdullahi Ibrahim of the Katsina State Emergency Management Board commended the initiative for fostering a culture of shared responsibility in maintaining security at the community level, noting that “security is a responsibility for all—men, women, and children alike.”
The Director-General of the Plateau Peacebuilding Agency, Dr Julie Sanda, commended the SPARCS programme for reinforcing citizens’ “understanding of their roles in promoting security in their communities” and strengthening structures that “firmly link the community with the local government.”
Likewise, the Special Adviser on Security to the Anambra State Governor, Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi (rtd) hailed SPARCS as “gamechanger in mainstreaming technology in safety and security in our communities.”
