[4] Surrounded by divergent religious, economic, and cultural histories, the middle belt has been the melting pot where small and large ethno-religious groups in Nigeria have long coexisted, but where they have also increasingly collided over land, resources, identity and political power.
[8] Over the course of 16 months, HD convened a series of discussions on several issues of concern, including: Following each dialogue session, the forum developed recommendations, which ultimately formed the basis of the implementation phase of the project.
The dialogue process culminated in a ceremony held in Jos on 12 December 2014 to mark the achievements of the forum and to launch the implementation phase of the project.
The declaration begins with a general description of the consensus reached, but goes on to commit the signatory communities to cooperate for the sake of peace:"During the dialogue sessions, we learned much about each other’s fears and desires, and have come to recognize several general truths, including that tolerance and respect serve as the foundation for peaceful living; dialogue rather than violence is the preferred means of resolving disputes; and that uniting around common values and ideals can achieve more progress and development than emphasizing differences.
"[9]The endorsed recommendations committed the communities to pursue their implementation in coordination with Federal, State, and Local Governments and civil society.