Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto
The European Union (EU) has launched a major peace-building and resilience initiative in Sokoto State aimed at tackling insecurity, poverty, climate-related challenges, and social fragility affecting vulnerable communities across Northwest Nigeria.
The project, tagged RECAP – Resilience, Engagement and Conflict Prevention for At-Risk Populations’ Protection in Sokoto State, was officially unveiled during an External Stakeholders Grant Opening Meeting held in Sokoto on Tuesday.
Funded by the European Union with a budget of €4.5 million, the 18-month intervention is expected to directly impact more than 537,000 people across 10 Local Government Areas of the state.
The initiative is being implemented by Action Against Hunger Nigeria in partnership with International Alert and Save The Child Initiative, with support from the Sokoto State Government, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and community leaders.
The programme forms part of the broader partnership between the European Union and Sokoto State, which includes political engagement, humanitarian assistance, development cooperation and support for civil society and traditional leadership institutions.
Organisers said the RECAP project is designed to strengthen peaceful coexistence, reduce the drivers of violent conflict and improve resilience among communities affected by insecurity, displacement, poverty and climate stress.
The intervention adopts an integrated conflict-sensitive approach combining dialogue and mediation, women and youth economic empowerment, equitable natural resource and water governance, as well as improved access to healthcare and gender-based violence response services.
Speaking at the launch, Xenia Stoll described the initiative as a strategic investment in peace, social cohesion and human security in Northwest Nigeria.
“The European Union values its relationship with Sokoto State. We support the governor and state authorities in their efforts to provide stability and prosperity for their population,” she said.
Stoll noted that the RECAP project reflects a shared commitment between international partners and local authorities to address the root causes of instability in the region.
“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 marginalisation, this action strengthens local capacities for peace and contributes to long-term stability in Sokoto State,” she stated.
Representing the Sokoto State Government, Commissioner for Health, Umar Abubakar, commended the European Union and development partners for supporting the state at a critical period.
“The Government of Sokoto State welcomes this important intervention and appreciates the European Union and Action Against Hunger Nigeria for their continued solidarity with our people,” he said.
According to the commissioner, the project aligns closely with the state government’s peacebuilding and development agenda.
“The focus on dialogue, livelihoods, water governance and protection directly aligns with our development and peacebuilding priorities. We remain committed to providing the necessary institutional support to ensure that this project delivers lasting benefits for our communities,” he added.
Abubakar represented the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Idris Muhammed Gobir, at the event.
Country Director of Action Against Hunger Nigeria, Thierno Samba Diallo, said the initiative reflects a deliberate shift from emergency response to long-term peace and resilience building.
“This project reflects our collective responsibility to move beyond crisis response and invest in sustainable peace,” Diallo said.
He noted that insecurity, climate stress, poverty and displacement continue to intersect across communities in Sokoto State, thereby requiring inclusive and locally driven solutions.
“Through RECAP, Action Against Hunger Nigeria, International Alert and STCI, with support from the European Union and in partnership with the Federal and Sokoto State Governments, are committed to strengthening community resilience, restoring trust and empowering women and youth as central actors in peacebuilding and recovery,” he said.
Development experts at the meeting observed that the initiative comes at a time when communities across Northwest Nigeria continue to grapple with armed violence, displacement, food insecurity and environmental pressures worsened by climate change.
Stakeholders also stressed the importance of strengthening local governance structures, promoting inclusive dialogue and expanding economic opportunities for women and young people as critical tools for preventing violent extremism.
The RECAP initiative is expected to complement ongoing national and international efforts aimed at stabilising fragile communities and promoting sustainable development across Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions.
