Sokoto climate peace project committee launched to tackle rising tensions
By: Abudu Olalekan
So, Sokoto just kicked off a new committee. A big deal, really. It’s all about this “Powering Peace through Climate Action II” thing. International Alert Nigeria and the state government teamed up. They inaugurated a Project Steering Committee last Thursday. February 12, 2026. In Sokoto city.
But why? Well, a bunch of peace-building and humanitarian folks met earlier. They had some resolutions. The main goal? To get everyone on the same page about climate-related security headaches. You know, the stuff that’s brewing trouble.
Mr. Sanusi Audu from International Alert broke it down plain. Climate change? It’s shrinking where cows can graze. Farm yields are dropping. People’s livelihoods are getting squeezed. All this pressure on land and water… it’s a powder keg. Farmers and herders are clashing more. It ain’t just about old disputes no more. The environment is fueling it.
“If you try to fix the insecurity without looking at the climate drivers,” Audu warned, “you’re just putting a band-aid on a bullet wound.” He’s pushing for climate-smart strategies. For long-term peace. For development that actually lasts.
Mr. Mustapha Umar, the committee’s Vice Chairman, echoed the urgency. He’s also the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation. He said we gotta weave climate thinking into how we prevent and solve conflicts. From the village level all the way up. His guidance? Things like advocacy visits, talking to communities, and making sure locals own these climate resilience projects.
Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, the District Head of Gagi, chimed in. He stressed that you can’t tackle climate and conflict in separate silos. It has to be together. He pointed out how climate stress makes everything worse—gender-based violence, poverty, kids out of school. “We need all hands,” he said. “Government, traditional rulers, everyone. Collective action for real solutions.”
The participants all agreed. Focusing on climate-sensitive conflict approaches will help everyone get the climate-security link. It lets policymakers craft plans that handle both environmental pressures and the social and economic mess they create. Smart, adaptive strategies could mean fewer fights over resources, more sustainable peace, and stronger livelihoods for folks on the frontlines.
The committee’s a mix. Got government ministries, community groups, traditional institutions, people with disabilities, civil society, and the media. It’s a whole ecosystem. They’re supposed to steer this project. Make sure it actually works on the ground.
