The Managing Director of the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC), Mohammed G. Alkali, has called on traditional rulers from the Lake Chad region to take up a more active role in mediating conflicts and promoting social harmony.
Alkali made this statement during his opening remarks at the weeklong Regional Meeting of Traditional Rulers of the Lake Chad Basin, held in Maidugurai on Monday.
Traditional rulers from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger were in attendance.
Alkali acknowledged that the challenges facing the Lake Chad Basin are complex and interconnected, emphasising that the mediation efforts of traditional institutions across the region are essential.
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He stressed that the involvement of traditional leaders would play a critical role in resolving the ongoing insecurity in the Lake Chad region.
Alkali further expressed his excitement over the establishment of a consultation and exchange platform for the traditional rulers, highlighting its potential to share experiences, best practices, and coordinated strategies to address shared challenges.
He also encouraged the traditional leaders to draw inspiration from past successes in the region, where traditional leadership played a crucial role in resolving disputes and fostering unity.
He called for enhanced collaboration between traditional institutions and public services, particularly in managing conflicts between displaced populations and host communities.
Responding, the Chairman of the Yobe Council of Chiefs and Emir of Fika, Alhaji Muhammad Ibn Abali Muhammad Idrissa, emphasised the importance of establishing a regional forum for traditional rulers to ensure sustainable peace.
He highlighted several ways in which traditional rulers could contribute to peacebuilding in the Lake Chad region, including fostering dialogue and reconciliation among conflicting parties, promoting tolerance and understanding among different ethnic and religious groups, and collaborating with government agencies to address security concerns.
He also proposed the creation of a platform or body where traditional rulers from the four Lake Chad Basin countries could periodically exchange ideas and experiences, further enhancing peace within the region.