Benue Unveils UK–FCDO SPRiNG Programme, Reiterates Commitment to Peace and Resilience

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Benue State Government has officially launched the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) Programme, reaffirming its commitment to conflict prevention, social cohesion, and climate-resilient livelihoods across the state.
SPRiNG is a United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) initiative implemented by Tetra Tech International Development in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), and Nextier SPD.

The programme, which commenced in May 2024 with scoping studies, has since rolled out targeted partnerships aimed at addressing peace, stability, and resilience challenges in Benue State.
The official launch, held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, brought together senior government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, community actors, and programme implementers to align on a shared framework for strengthening peacebuilding systems and resilience outcomes in the state.
Speaking at the event, Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, represented by his Deputy, Sam Ode, described the programme as timely and strategic. He said Benue State would continue to prioritise peacebuilding and resilience as central to development, stressing the need for coordinated governance, evidence-based interventions, and accountable partnerships.
The governor noted that the state’s realities—ranging from conflict pressures and land-related disputes to displacement, disrupted livelihoods, and climate shocks—require interventions that strengthen prevention and response mechanisms as well as local peace architecture.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Deborah Aber, described SPRiNG as a practical, evidence-driven investment focused on strengthening systems and building lasting capacity. She explained that the programme links analysis to action through early warning and early response mechanisms, trusted dispute-resolution pathways, and inclusive peacebuilding processes.
Mrs Aber also highlighted the resilience of Benue communities, noting their determination to rebuild livelihoods despite conflict and climate challenges, while calling for disciplined, people-centred implementation anchored on measurable outcomes.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Alfred Emberga, said peace and resilience are critical enablers of development and citizens’ wellbeing. He assured stakeholders of the Assembly’s commitment to providing legislative backing where necessary, ensuring effective oversight for transparency and value for money, and reflecting constituency voices—particularly those of women and youth—in peace and resilience interventions.
The Director-General of the Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD), Dr Leon-Angelo Viashima, said the launch signified a shift from ceremony to delivery, underscoring the state’s expectations around coordination, accountability, and risk management.
Dr Viashima outlined three key implementation priorities—clear coordination, community ownership, and results discipline—emphasising that the state would insist on outcomes that are tangible at the community level. He also stressed that all implementing partners, sub-grantees, consultants, community facilitators, and service providers under the SPRiNG framework must be formally registered and coordinated through established state channels.
According to him, uncoordinated operations in sensitive environments pose avoidable risks and could constitute security concerns, adding that the state would not hesitate to raise such issues with the FCDO and SPRiNG leadership when necessary.
Mr Nkem Uzor, Senior Programme Manager, Governance and Stability Block at the British High Commission, Abuja, commended stakeholder participation and reaffirmed the UK Government’s support for peace and resilience initiatives in Benue State.
Following a technical presentation on the SPRiNG Programme and partner interventions by the Team Leader, SPRiNG, Dr Ukoha Ukiwo, other stakeholders, including the Director-General of the Benue State Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, Mrs Josephine Habba, and the Senior Social Development Adviser at the British High Commission, Abuja, Mr Graham Gass, reiterated their collective commitment to ensuring the programme delivers practical and sustainable benefits to citizens.