LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)-The European Union has unveiled a €4.5 million resilience project in Sokoto State aimed at reducing insecurity and climate-related challenges, through community-driven peace building programmes across 10 local government areas.
Officials at an External Stakeholders Grant Opening Meeting in Sokoto on Wednesday, officially introduced the initiative, known as RECAP — Resilience, Engagement Conflict Prevention for At-Risk Populations’ Protection in Sokoto State.
The initiative will be implemented by Action Against Hunger Nigeria in partnership with International Alert Save The Child Initiative.
Set to run for 18 months and funded by the EU, the project is aimed at strengthening peace, improving resilience, supporting vulnerable communities facing insecurity, climate stress, displacement, and economic hardship.
The programme is expected to reach more than 537,000 people across 10 local government areas in the state.
Speaking during the launch, Xenia Stoll said the project highlights the European Union’s continued commitment to peacebuilding, social cohesion and human security in Northwest Nigeria.
“The European Union values the relationship with Sokoto State. We support the governor and state authorities in their efforts to provide stability and prosperity for their population. Through the RECAP project we jointly commit to conflict prevention, social cohesion and human security in Northwest Nigeria. By addressing the root causes of violence such as exclusion, resource competition, and economic marginalization, this action strengthens local capacities for peace, contributing to long-term stability in Sokoto State,” Stoll said.
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In support of the initiative, the Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Umar, who represented Deputy Governor Idris Mohammed Gobir at the event, described the intervention as timely and imperative due to the growing security environmental pressures affecting communities in the state.
“It is with great honor to address you today on this important occasion marking another milestone in our collective effort to promote peace, resilience and sustainability in Sokoto State,” Umar said.
He also praised the European Union development partners for supporting vulnerable groups across the state.
The health commissioner stated that Sokoto continues to face major challenges linked to insecurity, climate pressures, livelihood struggles, and resource-based conflicts, making coordinated community-focused interventions necessary.
“This initiative is both timely and essential. Sokoto State faces complex challenges including insecurity, climate pressures, livelihood vulnerabilities resource-based conflicts. These realities require coordinated, community-driven sustainable approaches,” he stated.
He further noted that the project’s focus on dialogue, livelihoods, water governance, mental health and psychosocial support reflects a deeper understanding of the factors driving conflict vulnerability in affected communities.
“This effort will not only address immediate needs but also strengthen long-term resilience social cohesion,” the health commissioner added.
In addition, Umar assured stakeholders that the Sokoto State Government would provide institutional backing to ensure smooth implementation and community ownership of the programme.
“The government of Sokoto State views this initiative as a strategic partnership aligned with our development priorities. We remain fully committed to supporting the implementation through our institutions, ensuring strong coordination, full participation local ownership,” he pledged.
Also speaking, Thierno Samba Diallo stressed the importance of inclusive locally driven peacebuilding efforts to achieve sustainable stability in Sokoto communities.
In Diallo’s words, “This project reflects our collective responsibility to move beyond crisis response and invest in sustainable peace. In Sokoto State, conflict, climate stress, and poverty displacement intersect in ways that demand inclusive, locally owned solutions. Through RECAP, Action Against Hunger Nigeria, International Alert STCI, with support from the European Union in partnership with the Federal Sokoto State Governments, we are committed to strengthening community resilience, restoring trust and empowering women and youth as central actors in peacebuilding recovery.”
Notably, the RECAP initiative also includes humanitarian support, political engagement, collaboration with civil society organizations and traditional institutions to promote lasting peace across the state.