Posted by Chinenye on Thu 17th Sep, 2026 - tori.ng
Nigeria is being urged to spend more time and money on preventing violence before problems become bigger.
(IPCR. Photo by THISDAYLIVE)
Nigeria's Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution is pushing lawmakers to tighten laws that strengthen social unity and peaceful governance as the country battles mounting security and social crises.
The institute's Director-General, Joseph Ochogwu, made the appeal Wednesday in Abuja while announcing plans for the annual International Day of Peace marked September 21.
Ochogwu called on federal and state governments to fund peacebuilding work properly and make it central to policy decisions.
He also urged security agencies to expand community-focused and non-military approaches to resolving conflicts.
This year's theme, "Investing in Peace for Everyone, Everywhere and Every Day," marks a shift from seeing peace simply as the absence of war toward viewing it as something requiring deliberate, ongoing investment.
Nigeria faces overlapping crises including violent extremism, farmer-herder clashes, banditry, community tensions, youth frustration, climate-driven fights over resources, and false information spreading online alongside economic hardship.
Ochogwu stressed that peace functions as critical infrastructure like roads and electricity.
Without it, food security, quality education, healthcare and investment all suffer.
He identified weak local government systems as a key vulnerability, noting that grassroots institutions serve as the frontline for preventing and resolving conflicts.
Strengthening them would bring governance closer to citizens and address grievances before they spark violence.
The institute chief also highlighted youth engagement, job training and digital economy opportunities as ways to give young Nigerians alternatives to crime and extremism.
Early warning systems, dialogue platforms, community mediation centres, youth hubs, strengthened traditional institutions and mental health support all require sustained investment on par with infrastructure.
Ochogwu stressed that peacebuilding cannot fall to government alone.
He called on lawmakers to pass stronger laws promoting social cohesion, security agencies to deepen non-military conflict resolution, the private sector to invest in peace as good business sense, traditional and religious leaders to promote tolerance, civil society and women's groups to champion non-violence, and media outlets to practice responsible reporting that avoids inflaming tensions.
Planned activities for the International Day of Peace include prayers at the National Mosque and National Christian Centre, a peace walk and national lecture on investing in peace ahead of 2027 elections, and a football match at the Old Parade Ground.
The institute has trained more than 86 young Nigerians as future peacebuilders and is working to bring peace education into schools.
It is also expanding its zonal and state offices while building community resilience through early warning systems.