The Adamawa State Government has announced plans to establish a Peace Commission aimed at sustaining and expanding the achievements of the COMITAS project, an initiative that has significantly reduced farmer-herder conflicts over natural resources.

This announcement was made by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, represented by his Chief of Staff, Edgar Amos, during the close-out ceremony of the Contributing to the Mitigation of Conflicts over Natural Resources between Farmers and Herder Communities (COMITAS II) project. The governor commended the initiative for its role in revitalizing socio-economic activities in previously conflict-prone areas of the state.

COMITAS II’s Impact and Legacy

The COMITAS project, implemented by a consortium including Search for Common Ground (SFCG), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Mercy Corps, and funded by the European Union, has addressed conflicts between farmers and herders. Over its duration, the initiative has positively impacted 32 conflict-prone communities across seven local government areas in Adamawa and two in Taraba.

Key structures handed over to the government include:

• Adamawa Forum for Farmer-Herder Relations (AFFAHR)
• Peace Architecture Dialogue (PAD)
• Community Security Architecture Dialogue (CSAD)
• Community Response Network (CRN)
• Common Ground Journalists Network
• Media Fellows

These platforms have promoted dialogue and collaboration between communities, reducing violent clashes and fostering peaceful coexistence.

Fatima Abubakar Madaki, the Country Director of SFCG, highlighted the project’s success in resolving resource-based conflicts and called on the state government to preserve the structures for continued peacebuilding.

In response, Edgar Amos reaffirmed the government’s commitment to peacebuilding and promised to integrate these structures into the upcoming Peace Commission. He emphasized the importance of modernizing agricultural practices for both farmers and herders to reduce pressure on land resources and adapt to climate challenges.

Chairpersons of local government areas in Adamawa pledged to adopt the peace structures and ensure they continue to serve their communities. According to the chairman of Shelleng LGA, the collaboration between councils and the state government will uphold the project’s vision.

Looking Ahead

As the COMITAS project officially concludes on January 15, 2025, Adamawa State is poised to build on its achievements, ensuring that the gains in peaceful farmer-herder relations are sustained through strategic investments in peacebuilding and sustainable agricultural practices.