..Vows to Sustain Gains of the COMITAS II Project

By Femi Bolaji

The Taraba State government has formally adopted peace-building structures established under the European Union (EU)-funded project aimed at mitigating conflicts between farmers and herders in the state.

The “Contributing to the Mitigation of Conflict over Natural Resources between Farmers and Herders Communities in Adamawa and Taraba States” (COMITAS) project, implemented by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and other development partners, focused on Zing and Lau Local Government Areas over a 24-month period.

Speaking at the project’s closeout session, SFCG Country Director Fatima Abubakar praised the profound impact of the initiative. She emphasized the importance of maintaining the peace structures established during the project’s implementation.

“These structures—Peace Architecture Dialogue (PAD), Community Response Network (CRN), and Community Security Architecture Dialogue (CSAD)—are now in the capable hands of the people of Taraba State,” she said. “By formally handing over these peace structures, we affirm our belief in the power of local ownership.

“The COMITAS II project has laid a strong foundation for sustainable peace in Taraba State. We look forward to the establishment of the Taraba State Peace Commission and the EWER [Early Warning and Early Response] situation room, which we inspected some months ago,” Abubakar added.

Representing Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas at the event, Bishop Innocent Solomon, Chairman of the Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management, expressed satisfaction with the project’s success. He highlighted the state’s commitment to sustaining the initiative through the newly established Bureau.

“The establishment of the Bureau for Peace and Conflict Management demonstrates our dedication to ensuring these peace-building structures endure,” Solomon stated. “The state government is determined to consolidate the progress made under COMITAS II for the benefit of all communities.”

The project underscores Taraba State’s commitment to fostering peaceful coexistence and addressing conflicts over natural resources.