The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has donated ₦82 million to assist displaced children and conflict-affected farmers in Plateau State.
The package includes ₦26 million for children’s education and ₦56 million for farmers whose farmlands were destroyed in violent conflicts.
The intervention was announced at the Humanitarian, Development and Peace (HDP) Nexus Workshop held in Jos as part of activities marking Peace Month 2025.
Regional Commitment to Recovery
Speaking at the event, Sintiki Tarfa, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs at the ECOWAS Commission, described the initiative as a show of solidarity with Plateau’s displaced communities.
“Today, ECOWAS steps in not as a distant observer but as brothers and sisters committed to healing and rebuilding. The ₦26 million support will restore education and dignity to displaced children, while ₦56 million will help farmers rebuild their livelihoods,” Tarfa said.
FG, State, and Community Reactions
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, represented by Bashir Aminu, hailed the gesture as timely.
“This is not just aid but an investment in peace and stability. It complements government efforts to protect the dignity of our citizens and restore livelihoods across conflict-hit areas,” the minister noted.
The Director-General of the Plateau State Peace Building Agency (PSPBA), Ladan Amos, also welcomed the donation, stressing that displacement has placed a heavy burden on children and farmers.
“This support from ECOWAS affirms that peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and development must go hand in hand if we are to secure Plateau’s future,” Amos said.
From the camps, Matthew Malau, representing displaced families, said the donation would give children a chance to return to school and rebuild their hopes.
“Our children have been out of school, and families are struggling to survive. With this support, parents see light at the end of the tunnel, and children can dream again,” Malau said.
According to the Plateau Peace Building Agency, more than 31,000 households have been displaced across Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Mangu, and Riyom Local Government Areas. Many ancestral farmlands remain occupied by armed groups, posing significant challenges to return and recovery efforts.
With ECOWAS’s intervention, affected families in Plateau State are expected to receive relief that restores both education and livelihoods — vital steps toward long-term peace and stability.
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