The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has called for coordinated regional action to prevent farmer-herder conflicts and prolonged internal displacement, citing Nigeria’s experience as a lesson for West Africa.
The call was made by the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate and First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Barau Jibrin, in a presentation titled, “Strategies for Addressing Internal Displacement and Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Nigeria,” at the Parliament’s Second Extraordinary Session and Seminar in Accra, Ghana.
Barau’s presentation was delivered by Senator Sadiq Umar.
He said Nigeria’s experience with farmer-herder conflicts, internal displacement and the attendant humanitarian crises offered important lessons for the region and the wider African continent.
According to him, although Nigeria has extensive agricultural and pastoral economies on which millions depend for their livelihoods, increasing pressure on land and water resources has contributed to conflicts, banditry, terrorism and other forms of insecurity.
The lawmaker said Nigeria had introduced several measures to address the challenges, including the creation of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to coordinate emergency relief operations and responses to internally displaced persons.
“Nigeria’s approach is increasingly consistent with the international shift from short-term humanitarian response towards government-led development-oriented solutions,” he said.
Barau also noted that Nigeria was among the countries selected under the United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement and Focused National Pathways towards Durable Solutions.
He said the country’s commitment to protecting internally displaced persons had also been strengthened through its engagement with the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, known as the Kampala Convention.
However, he expressed concern that despite several interventions, more than three million Nigerians remained displaced and were living in camps and other displacement settings across the country.
He said internal displacement should not be regarded as the exclusive responsibility of humanitarian agencies, stressing the need for coordinated action involving relevant ministries, departments and agencies, as well as traditional institutions.
Barau called for greater attention to early warning systems, conflict prevention mechanisms and climate adaptation measures to tackle the underlying factors driving displacement and farmer-herder conflicts.
He also urged governments to treat livestock as an economic sector rather than solely as a security concern, arguing that investment in ranching, livestock feeding and breeding could reduce pressure associated with uncontrolled livestock movements and markets.
The senator further called on parliamentarians to establish appropriate legislative frameworks for the protection of displaced persons and the regulation of land and livestock management.
“Parliamentary committees should conduct evidence-based oversight of government programmes and expenditure relating to displacement, security, agriculture, livestock and reconstruction,” he said.
Barau said Nigeria’s experience had demonstrated that internal displacement and farmer-herder conflicts were complex challenges requiring comprehensive and coordinated responses.
He stressed that effective implementation of policies and interventions remained critical to enabling farmers and herders to pursue their lawful and productive livelihoods without conflict.
The lawmaker said the focus of governments and regional institutions should shift from responding to crises after they occur to preventing them and addressing the conditions that fuel prolonged displacement.
“For Africa, the challenge extends beyond responding to crises after they occur; it requires building resilient institutions, economies and communities capable of preventing conflicts and protracted displacement.
“As parliamentarians, we have a responsibility to support appropriate legislation, strengthen oversight, promote inclusive dialogue and ensure that public resources are directed towards sustainable solutions,” he added.