By ibrahima yakubu
KADUNA, North-West Nigeria – The Kaduna State Peace Commission (KSPC) is considering extending its ongoing 3-day annual activity planning meeting for 2025, aimed at refining the Commission’s Strategic Plan (2024-2028) and ensuring the development of actionable plans to strengthen peace-building efforts across the state.
The Acting Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Hajiya Khadija Hawaja Gambo, made the announcement during a briefing with journalists on the second day of the meeting, held at the KSPC office in the South Wing Complex of the General Hassan Usman Katsina House in Kaduna on Thursday.
Hajiya Gambo explained that the possibility of extending the planning period stems from the Commission’s commitment to creating a comprehensive and actionable work plan. “We are not in a hurry to just finalize a plan. Our priority is to develop a detailed, effective plan that will guide our peace-building efforts across all 23 Local Government Areas in Kaduna State,” she said.
She highlighted that after the first day, stakeholders had successfully addressed the first goal of the plan, and on day two, they continued refining it further. “On Monday, I mentioned that the planning meeting was set for three days: the first two days were for discussions and adjustments, and the third day will be for validating the draft document,” she noted.
Hajiya Gambo also revealed that the Commission had expanded its membership for the meeting, emphasizing the importance of input from new members. “We included the state Ministry of Internal Security, because peace and security go hand in hand. The Judiciary’s representation was essential, as peace and justice are closely linked. We also invited a delegation from the state Bureau of Interfaith, recognizing the overlap in our mandates,” she said.
She further explained the inclusion of the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) Consortium, which addresses intra- and interfaith issues, particularly relevant given the historical religious conflicts in the state over the past 30 years. “To create a holistic and comprehensive work plan, we must bring all relevant stakeholders to the table,” Hajiya Gambo added. “This inclusive approach has already led to richer discussions and more impactful decisions.”
The Acting EVC also praised the media, especially the Network of Peace Journalists (NPJ), for their consistent support and coverage of the Commission’s activities. “We appreciate NPJ for their timely and conflict-sensitive reporting,” she said, adding that the Commission looks forward to continued collaboration with the media.
Reuben Emmanuel Esq., Lead of the Nigeria JISRA Lobby, Advocacy, and Communications Working Group (LAC-WG) and Tearfund UK Nigeria Country Consortium Lead, also expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. “It’s exciting to see the Kaduna State Government recognize the efforts of the Consortium, including our organization,” he said. Emmanuel highlighted the importance of the meeting, noting that such collaborations between civil society organizations (CSOs) and the government are vital for sustainable peace and development. “This is a collective responsibility, and it’s encouraging to see the government listen and involve us in the planning process,” he added.
Emmanuel further emphasized the positive shift in the relationship between CSOs and the government in Kaduna, pointing out that in other regions, such collaboration is often not possible due to hostile environments. “The fact that CSOs and the government can sit down together is a significant step forward,” he noted.
The 3-day meeting, which includes KSPC partners and stakeholders, aims to review existing strategies and collaboratively develop actionable plans to enhance peace-building in Kaduna State.
