Building Bridges for Peace II (BB4Peace II) is a community-led peacebuilding initiative implemented by the Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse (YIAVHA) in Riyom Local Government Area (LGA), Plateau State, Nigeria. The project builds on insights generated during Phase I and translates conflict analysis into practical, youth-led actions that reduce violence, rebuild trust, and strengthen social cohesion.
BB4Peace II is supported under the SPRiNG (Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria) Programme, funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by Tetra Tech International Development.
Project Communities
BB4Peace II works across four inter-community clusters in Riyom LGA:
- Sopp – Ranchol
- Bangai Berom – Bangai Fulani
- Bachi – Dian
- Lwa – Shong II
These clusters represent long-standing fault lines of farmer–herder and inter-communal tensions.
Why This Project
Riyom LGA continues to experience recurring insecurity driven by mistrust between communities, drug abuse among youth, competition over land and resources, exclusion of young people from decision-making, and weak collaborative peace mechanisms. Without deliberate cross-community engagement, local disputes easily escalate into wider violence.
BB4Peace II responds by addressing these drivers through structured dialogue, drug-free community campaigns, and collaborative livelihood initiatives that are owned and led by community members—particularly youth.
Key Interventions
1. Drug-Free Communities Campaign
The project promotes non-violence and responsible citizenship through youth-led, role-based awareness sessions and public drug-free campaigns, implemented in partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA). Activities include community dialogues, road walks, school and market engagements, and the production of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, highlighting the link between drug abuse, insecurity, and community breakdown.
2. Inter-Community and Central Dialogue Forums
BB4Peace II facilitates:
- Inter-community dialogue forums within each cluster to surface grievances, identify triggers of violence, and extract role based actions that build trust.
- A Central Inter-Community Dialogue Forum that brings together representatives from Government and security, all eight project communities and surrounding flashpoints to address cross-border and shared conflict dynamics.
These dialogue processes culminate in a jointly endorsed communique that captures a one-year action plan, outlining practical commitments by community leaders, youth, and women.
3. Joint Farming Initiatives
In collaboration with the Plateau Agricultural Development Programme (PADP), BB4Peace II supports 4 joint farming initiatives covering 0.8 hectares of land farming improved potatoes. Communities collectively agree on land access, farming schedules, and farm management, supported with irrigation-related farm implements and farm knowledge through PADP. Shared livelihoods are intentionally used as platforms for cooperation, trust-building, and conflict prevention.
Emerging Results
- Improved communication and relationships across historically divided communities
- Reduced tension around land use and farming activities
- Increased recognition of youth and women as legitimate peace actors
- Practical collaboration replacing suspicion and rivalry
Location: Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria