- FG has started work on a new National Peace Policy
- The policy will focus on conflict prevention and national resilience
- Stakeholders want a coordinated approach to peacebuilding
The Federal Government has commenced efforts to develop a new National Peace Policy designed to improve conflict prevention, strengthen coordination and build resilience across Nigeria.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the the initiative was launched during a three-day technical workshop organised in Abuja by the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE) and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), in partnership with Triple Peace Africa.
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The workshop, themed “Building an Inclusive National Infrastructure for Peace and Resilience,” brought together officials from government ministries and agencies, lawmakers, state peace commissions, civil society groups and peacebuilding experts.
According to a statement issued by OSPRE Programme Manager Hafsah Matazu on Thursday, the participants focused on developing a framework capable of responding to Nigeria’s changing security and social environment.
Speaking at the workshop, OSPRE Director-General Chris Ngwodo said the proposed policy would provide a coordinated direction for peacebuilding efforts while addressing developments that have emerged since an earlier attempt to formulate a National Peace Policy in 2012.
The Director-General of IPCR, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, described the proposed framework as an important step towards strengthening Nigeria’s peacebuilding system and providing clear guidelines for its operations.
The Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa (retd.), said the policy would encourage authorities and other stakeholders to identify and address potential conflicts before they develop into major crises.
He stressed the importance of moving away from a system that responds only after violence has occurred towards one that prioritises early warning, prevention and coordinated intervention.
Triple Peace Africa Chief Executive Officer, Dr Paul Nyulaku, said the discussions reflected growing agreement among stakeholders on the need for a more sustainable approach to peacebuilding in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion, Sadiq Tafida, also pledged the National Assembly’s support for the initiative and promised to work towards ensuring that the policy receives adequate funding.
Participants agreed that achieving lasting peace would require cooperation across all levels of government and society.
They advocated a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” strategy that would bring together federal and state institutions, local authorities, peace commissions, civil society organisations and community actors.
The stakeholders also called for a policy that reflects Nigeria’s present security, social and economic realities rather than relying on outdated approaches.
At the conclusion of the workshop, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, urged those involved in drafting the policy to place national values at its centre.
He said the framework should also promote civic participation, strengthen social cohesion and encourage Nigerians to take greater responsibility for building peaceful communities.
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