The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) has unveiled a guideline aimed at addressing farmer-herder conflicts in Plateau, particularly those related to land use.
The organisation formally launched the document on Tuesday in Jos.
Speaking at the event, Ijeoma Nwafor, the Country Representative of HiiL, said the guideline was developed through both field and desk research to tackle disputes surrounding land use.
She said the initiative was supported by the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme and funded by the UK Government.
Nwafor explained that the research underpinning the guideline was conducted in three Local Government Areas of the state.
“We are here to launch a guideline that was developed by the people of Plateau to address the conflict between herders and farmers, specifically on land use.
“When we conducted the research, we discovered that beyond land issues, criminality has also intensified the conflict.
“However, our primary focus remains land use. The guideline is a compilation of both desk and field research,” she said.
Describing the document as a “living guide”, Nwafor urged residents of Plateau to utilise it effectively in curbing land-related conflicts.
Earlier, Priscila Ankut, the Team Lead of SPRiNG, said the programme was focused on promoting peace and building community resilience to the impacts of climate change.
“Our programme is working to promote peace in communities and help them manage and develop resilience to pressures arising from climate change.
“Our findings show that many stressors leading to violence are linked to the use of natural resources, including land,” she said.
Ankut noted that tensions between farming and pastoralist communities often go unresolved, thereby escalating conflicts.
She said SPRiNG’s contribution to the project, implemented by HiiL, was aimed at improving relationships between farmers and pastoralists in Plateau.
According to her, similar initiatives are ongoing in Kaduna, Benue and Katsina states, particularly in communities prone to conflicts over natural resources.
She added that the guideline would equip community actors with tools for preventing and resolving disputes related to land and other natural resources.
“We hope this effort will reduce violence in communities and promote fair, transparent and just management of land disputes.
“In many cases, poorly managed disputes lead to prolonged grievances and self-help by affected parties.
“We believe this guideline will provide proper direction and training for communities to address such challenges effectively,” she said.