Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, has said that the implementation of a non-kinetic approach to combating insecurity has significantly reduced tensions and restored peace in the South-East region.
Kalu said this on Monday in Abuja, during the 2024 First Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament.
Speaking at the plenary session, Kalu credited the reduction in crises to the non-kinetic strategy adopted by the Federal Government, adding that it marked a departure from traditional military interventions.
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“The crises in the South-East region, occasioned by various agitations, have drastically reduced,” Kalu stated.
He highlighted that the military has toned down its operations and followed Tinubu’s directive to settle conflicts through non-kinetic means rather than using force.
Kalu emphasised that this strategy has not only restored peace in the region but has also allowed for political solutions to be activated, leading to appeals for the release of imprisoned agitators.
He encouraged the sub-regional body to adopt similar measures, citing their positive results.
“The usual tradition has been to send the military with their arms to crisis areas. But there is a new wave now in my country where issues are being resolved without sending a military task force with guns. It’s a non-kinetic approach happening in the southeastern region.
“Before President Tinubu’s emergence, it was about various military operations. But he has spoken to the military to address the sociological problems causing the crises and to bring people to the table for resolution. This is a good template that Africa should absorb, and ECOWAS should consider”, Kalu explained.
Kalu said this approach was calming tensions and providing opportunities for non-kinetic conflict resolution. He noted that the region, still healing from the civil war, is seeing positive changes thanks to this new method.
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In an interview with journalists, Kalu praised the president’s support for the Peace in South-East Project (PISE-P), which is aimed at bringing peace and infrastructure to the region.
He described the current administration’s approach to crisis management as a paradigm shift from previous methods.
He emphasised the importance of addressing the root causes of conflicts and resolving them through dialogue rather than military force.
