By Our Correspondent

National News – The European Union has launched a €4.5 million conflict prevention and resilience initiative in Sokoto State, north-west Nigeria, aimed at reducing insecurity, climate-related stress, displacement, and socio-economic vulnerability across at-risk communities.

The initiative, unveiled on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Sokoto State, was introduced by the European Union in partnership with Action Against Hunger Nigeria, International Alert, and Save the Children Initiative.

It seeks to address the question of how to prevent recurring conflict by targeting root causes such as resource competition, exclusion, poverty, and climate pressures.

The RECAP project—Resilience, Engagement and Conflict Prevention for At-Risk Populations’ Protection—will run for 18 months and cover 10 local government areas in Sokoto, reaching more than 537,000 people.

Officials said the programme is designed to strengthen peacebuilding and social cohesion by improving dialogue mechanisms, livelihoods, water governance, and psychosocial support services.

Sokoto State Government representatives welcomed the project as timely, promising institutional backing to ensure effective implementation across affected communities.

The EU-backed RECAP programme also aligns with broader regional stability efforts in Nigeria’s north-west, where communities have faced persistent banditry, displacement, and food insecurity.

By integrating mental health support, youth empowerment, women inclusion, and sustainable livelihood interventions, the project is expected to reduce tension and promote long-term resilience.

Stakeholders emphasised that coordinated governance between federal, state, and local institutions will be critical to sustaining peace outcomes beyond the 18-month implementation period.

Analysts say the intervention could serve as a model for conflict prevention programmes across other vulnerable Nigerian states if successfully implemented.

It is also expected to strengthen trust between communities and government institutions in the region.