Follow Us on Google
…meet religious, community leaders, others
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN) has insisted that approach to durable peace and security in Nigeria should not be top-down approach, but through the active participation of all sections of society.
With specific interest in FCT, the Foundation said it’s concern with rising cases of insecurity in the FCT which might discourage residents and investors from engaging in their socioeconomic activities.
It stated that whether a government official, security personnel, religious, community leader or concerned citizen, all have a vital role to play in building a safer and more secured society for today and future generations, hence it promoted the vision of “One Family under God”.
Country Director of the Foundation, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, gave the suggestion in Abuja, at a one-day high-level dialogue summit organized by the Foundation Nigeria in partnership with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).
He said: “Abuja is confronted with a challenge of insecurity, threatening the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of its residents, thus sending wrong signals to visitors, especially the members of the international community who might want to visit or even invest in Nigeria.
“In recognition that injury to one is an injury to all, whereas an injury to the head affects the whole body, if Abuja becomes unsafe, insecure and not peaceful, the whole nation could be overwhelmed by insecurity.
“Achieving sustainable peace and security in Abuja requires concerted and collaborative efforts. At GPFN, we firmly believe that sustainable peace cannot be easily achieved through a top-down approach, but through the active participation of all sections of society.”
He explained that the One Family under God campaign is a strategy to prompt all and sundry that all belong to one big esteemed human family, regardless of the diverse differences.
“Therefore, irrespective of our differences, we are brothers and sisters ancestrally with a shared humanity. As such, we must work hand in hand to make our societies peaceful and embrace one another not minding our identities.
“We have a shared concern and responsibility to address the pressing urgency to promote collective efforts towards peace and security in Abuja. We understand that sustainable peace and security cannot be achieved if we work in isolation, hence our approach is rooted in collaboration, inclusivity and empowerment of community leaders to become agents of change,” he added.
Director General of IPCR, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, in his address, said that “Abuja, like many urban centres, faces challenges that threaten its peace and security. These challenges encompass increase in crime such as robbery incidences, kidnapping, socio-economic disparities, political instability, and the threat of violent extremism. Undoubtedly, Abuja is grappling with a concerning escalation in insecurity.
“In recent times, we have witnessed an alarming escalation in security incidences in Abuja. This surge in insecurity is not just a statistic, it’s a reality that has touched the lives of our fellow citizens, disrupted peace, and challenged our sense of safety. It’s a reality that has transformed our city, once renowned as a beacon of stability and security, into a place where uncertainty and fear have taken hold.
“This deterioration of security is stark contrast to Abuja’s historical reputation as relatively immune to the pervasive security threats affecting other cities/regions of Nigeria. It’s a great concern to all of us for several reasons. It affects the daily lives of residents, instilling fear and uncertainty. It disrupts social activities, economic growth, and the overall wellbeing of the people,” he said.
Representative of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), said that FCT is the pride of Nigeria, hence the issue of security is not taken lightly by the Police.
He said the Police in FCT is constantly working hard to fish out criminals from their hideouts and make them face the wrath of the law.
He further disclosed that the heightened insecurity in the FCT has been brought under control, and that was done through the collaborations with various stakeholders including the other security agencies, community and religious leaders.
“We must know that no society including the developed countries is free of crime, but the duty of the Police and other stakeholders is to prevent the crimes, and take necessary responsive actions whenever it happens,” he said.
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
