Reaching a peace agreement in Nigeria’s Middle Belt: Shared natural resource use in the climate crisis

In Nigeria, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) is addressing natural resource- and climate-related conflicts between communities through dialogue facilitation. These efforts resulted in the signing of a peace agreement based on shared natural resource use and access in August 2023.

Localised conflict over land use and access

Ensuring clear boundaries between land used by different groups in Nigeria is important for communities to secure access to and control farmlands, grazing areas, and other natural resources. However, land boundaries are often inadequately delineated and mismanaged, leading to conflicts between different land users, particularly farmers and herders. Currently, conflicts over these boundaries are widespread and occur in rural areas in almost every state in Nigeria. While these conflicts are highly localised, many of them have a very long history, tracing back to colonial maps drawn in the 1920s that led to problems for land sharing and access between Nigeria’s diverse ethnic communities. 

In Benue State, the lack of clearly delineated land boundaries between the Tiv and Igede ethnic communities of the Konshisha and Oju Local Government Areas (LGAs) has been a source of conflict for decades. The dispute centres on land use for farming and herding, as well as the use of other natural resources, such as forests for hunting and woodcutting, sand mining and access to streams and ponds. In recent years, the conflict has become even more severe, seeing annual escalations between 2020 and 2022, leading to widespread loss of life. Economic activities have been disrupted in both LGAs, with farm produce destroyed, and markets and small businesses forced to close. Roads have been blocked due to security risks, cutting community members off from vital services. Meanwhile, the volatile situation has enabled illicit economies to flourish, including excessive deforestation and sand mining. 

The impact of climate change on resource availability and competition

In recent years, climate change impacts, including droughts and irregular rainfall patterns, have reduced the availability of essential natural resources, such as arable land, in the Konshisha and Oju LGAs. Meanwhile, resources are put under further pressure due to population growth, over-exploitation of resources such as forests, and migration. Many people from neighbouring areas have migrated to the Konshisha and Oju LGAs, meaning that a greater number of people are using the same limited resources. Competition has intensified over access to land, forests, water points and other resources, exacerbating tensions.

Reaching a peace agreement

In December 2022, HD initiated a peace process between communities in the Konshisha and Oju LGAs as part of the Weathering Risk Peace Pillar. In the pre-dialogue phase, communities agreed on a framework and Action Plan for formal dialogue. Following this, inclusive dialogue sessions convened traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youth groups, development associations, diaspora representatives, and opinion leaders who wield influence in the community. During the dialogue sessions, participants discussed a framework for providing access to markets, water points and forests for both communities, and the demarcation of the disputed land boundary.

[HD] invited the traditional rulers-first class chiefs, which I was one [of], and [we] benefited from a training on the process of conflict resolution, [which] did a lot of good to us, because when I came back we trained the lower chiefs.

- His Royal Highness CP. Oga Ero, Adirahu Nyi Igede

On 15 August 2023, months of negotiations facilitated by HD culminated in the Tiv and Igede communities signing a peace agreement based on shared natural resource use. The agreement covers access to and the joint management of water points, forests, farmlands and markets, as well as the demarcation of the land boundary contested between the two groups. Provisions also include specific commitments to respond to climate change and environmental degradation, including forest and water conservation, as well as modernising farming techniques. In addition, community peace structures were set up to ensure the implementation of the agreement after the peace process ended. 

This journey over the last one year has brought hope to our people.

- Barr. Sam Ode, Deputy of Governor Benue State

Since the signing of the peace agreement, violent incidents between the Tiv and Igede communities over land boundaries in the Konshisha and Oju LGAs have reduced significantly. Over the past year, both communities have worked with the Nigerian government to begin the demarcation of the boundaries. Community peace structures, the Benue State Government and HD are cooperating to sustain the efforts of the peace process. A dedicated peace committee and traditional rulers are also available to engage in further dialogue to resolve additional issues that could arise.

I want to promise us here that we will not relent, we will give out all we have to making sure that peace returns permanently to the boundary corridor of Bonta and Ukpute, not just Bonta and Ukpute but the entire Benue state - we promise you and we anchor this promise on absolute commitment, dedication and honesty.

- His Royal Highness, Daniel Ulegede 

This impact story was prepared by: Chris Agoha, Lina Hillert, Sebastian Kratzer, Caroline Nyaga, Ahmed Yassin (Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue), Sinéad Barry and Alexandra Steinkraus (adelphi)