IPCR Engages Stakeholders in Katsina to Strengthen Early Warning and Response Systems

Katsina State, long affected by farmer-herder conflicts, armed banditry, communal clashes, and climate-related resource disputes, recently hosted a high-level advocacy visit led by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR). The two-day visit, held from March 3rd to 4th, 2026, aimed to strengthen the state’s capacity for early warning and early response (EWER) to violence and insecurity.

The IPCR Director General, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, and his team engaged with more than 50 senior stakeholders to discuss strategies for improving conflict mitigation and security measures across security agencies, government institutions, traditional and religious leaders, and civil society organisations. The visit was part of the National Conflict Early Warning and Response System (NCEWERS) project, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through SPRiNG.

To promote the NCEWERS project and upgrade the Early Warning and Early Response App, IPCR reaffirmed its partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure coordinated risk responses, faster reaction times to early warnings, and to address the challenge of slow responses despite available alerts.

Stakeholders engaged included the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Department of State Services (DSS), Katsina State Development Board, Independent State Peace Architecture, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Discussions focused on enhancing community resilience, expanding capacity-building for women and persons with disabilities (PWDs), supporting youth and women’s groups, and positioning emergency warning ring groups as frontline responders.

While engaging stakeholders in Katsina State, Dr. Ochogwu stated, “The visit aims to mitigate conflict by working with government institutions and local actors to address its root causes.”

He further explained that the first stage of implementing the project is to build the capacity of frontline local actors with basic conflict management skills and to seek the support of other stakeholders for the successful implementation of the project.

“Building the capacity of local institutions—including traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, youth groups, and women’s groups—and connecting them with state security actors, equipping all with basic conflict resolution and mediation skills,” Dr. Ochogwu stated.

The visit highlighted the importance of empowering local government and traditional institutions, which often lack the autonomy and resources to act swiftly in crisis situations. IPCR called for concrete plans to strengthen these institutions and operationalise rapid response mechanisms that translate early warnings into coordinated action.

A key takeaway from the advocacy visit was the renewed commitment of Katsina stakeholders to champion the NCEWERS project and participate in ongoing peace initiatives. Marginalised groups, including women and persons with disabilities, were also included in the advocacy discourse, ensuring a more inclusive approach to peacebuilding. The focus on elite buy-in is expected to drive grassroots impact and ensure swift, coordinated responses to emerging threats across Katsina State.