EU unveils €4.5m conflict prevention project in Sokoto

No fewer than 537,014 people in Sokoto State are expected to benefit from a €4.5 million conflict prevention and resilience project aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence and tackling the root causes of insecurity in vulnerable communities. The initiative, titled Resilience, Engagement and Conflict Prevention for At-Risk Populations’ Protection (RECAP), was officially launched on Wednesday in […]

No fewer than 537,014 people in Sokoto State are expected to benefit from a €4.5 million conflict prevention and resilience project aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence and tackling the root causes of insecurity in vulnerable communities.

The initiative, titled Resilience, Engagement and Conflict Prevention for At-Risk Populations’ Protection (RECAP), was officially launched on Wednesday in Sokoto.

The project will be implemented in 10 local government areas — Bodinga, Tambuwal, Gwadabawa, Shagari, Yabo, Dange-Shuni, Kware, Wammako, Sokoto North and Sokoto South.

The project is funded by the European Union.

The intervention targets internally displaced persons, host communities, women, youths and other vulnerable groups. It will focus on peacebuilding, livelihoods support, natural resource and water governance, as well as access to healthcare and protection services, including gender-based violence response.

Expected outcomes include reduced communal conflicts, improved dispute resolution mechanisms, increased economic resilience and stronger trust between communities and authorities.

Speaking at the project launch, Political Officer at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Xenia Stoll, said the initiative reflects a shared commitment to conflict prevention and inclusive governance in Northwest Nigeria.

“The European Union values its relationship with Sokoto State. Through the RECAP project, we are supporting efforts to strengthen social cohesion, human security and long-term stability,” she said.

Representing the deputy governor, Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Faruk Abubakar Wurno, described the intervention as timely and aligned with the state’s peacebuilding priorities.

 

Country Director of Action Against Hunger Nigeria, Thierno Samba Diallo, said the project marks a shift from emergency response to sustainable resilience building driven by local communities.