UNDP Commits 45 Million Naira To Jos Crises
The UNDP has committed 300,000 dollars (N 45 million), to cushion the effect of the various crises that had rocked the Nigerian Northern City of Jos in the last two years.
The Training Coordinator of UNDP, Mr Matthew Alao, said that the organisation released 150,000 dollars (N 22.5 million) last year for immediate intervention in the Jos crises, while a similar amount was released this year.
According to him, “Initially, they released $150,000 for immediate intervention in Jos crisis and for 2011, they have released another one.But as of last year, when these crises have started reoccurring and is taking violent dimensions, UNDP under the Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Recovery”.
Great Concern
He said that the UNDP had been concerned about the recurrent crises in the plateau capital and had been trying to intervene since 2004 when the crises erupted.
In his words, “UNDP is concerned about the crises in Jos. We've been trying to do our beat since 2004 when the crises erupted there. But unfortunately we have not done much because we underrate the crisis in Jos.”
Proffers Solution The UNDP Official stated that the intervention fund was a prelude to permanent interventions by the world body through which all stakeholders would be engaged in dialogue both at the political and at the community levels.
“The conflict in Jos is a trigger that we are seeing the root causes, most people we have not dealt with.”
“So we will need to engage all stakeholders; the governments at the state and federal levels, the faith-based leaders, the youth of the place, and see that everybody comes to the table and embrace peace”. He said
Proactive
He explained that the Nigerian Government are putting a security task force called “Operation Rainbow'' in place to replace the Joint Task force that was in place before.
The UNDP Training Coordinator said that governments were aware that inclusive governance; dialogue with the people; allowing the people to voice their own view were keys to resolving the crises in Jos.
He said that there was the need to engage the violent youths peacefully and convert them to “Youth Ambassadors'' and task them with the responsibility of preaching peace.
Alao added that another strategy was to establish skills development centres for skills acquisition and employment generation.
NAN/Qasim
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