World Peace Day: Stakeholders call for grassroots peace campaigns to tackle insecurity

The call was made on Friday in Abuja during the 2026 World Peace Day Celebration and the 10th anniversary of PEPOLAC, themed: “Keeping Peace Alive for Global Peace: Advancing Peace, Unity and Sustainable Development in Communities.”

Representing Ahmad Sanusi, Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who was the Chairman of the occasion,  Lawrence Iwobi, said peace remains the foundation upon which unity, security and sustainable development are built, stressing that no society can make meaningful progress without respect for law and order.

Alobi described the conference as timely, noting that the gathering itself reflected a shared commitment to peaceful coexistence.

He said peace goes beyond the absence of war, explaining that it is anchored on respect for laws, obedience to constituted authority and acceptance of differing opinions.

According to him, while disagreements are inevitable in every society, conflicts can only be managed through adherence to established rules and the effective enforcement of laws.

“The extent to which we obey laws and regulations is very important if we want to have peace. That is why law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, continue to emphasise obedience and compliance with rules,” he said.

Iwobi noted that the quest for peace is as old as humanity itself because people from different backgrounds must continually find ways to live together harmoniously.

He urged participants to become ambassadors of peace by taking the message back to their communities, organisations and workplaces.

“If every one of us preaches peace individually, the message will spread to more people. When differences arise, we should encourage dialogue and understanding,” he added.

The police representative further warned that insecurity discourages investment and slows development, pointing out that many communities continue to suffer economically because investors remain reluctant to operate in areas plagued by violence.

He urged Nigerians to continue promoting peace in support of government efforts to restore security across the country.

Speaking during an interview, Festus Ozoeomena, International President of PEPOLAC,  said the worsening security situation in Nigeria makes the conversation on peace more urgent than ever.

He lamented the increasing incidents of banditry, kidnappings, killings and attacks on schools, describing the situation as one that demands collective national action.

“There is no better time to talk about peace than now. The level of insecurity has become alarming. We see people abducting schoolchildren, teachers and innocent citizens. We cannot continue like this,” he said.

Ozoeomena said the annual Peace Alive Conference was designed to confront the country’s growing insecurity by bringing stakeholders together to identify practical solutions.

According to him, the event also marks a significant milestone in PEPOLAC’s decade-long commitment to peace advocacy and community development.

He said the conference featured panel discussions focused on insecurity and peacebuilding with the aim of developing workable recommendations for government and communities.

 Ozoeomena said PEPOLAC has carried out peace campaigns across several communities, established peace clubs in schools and trained thousands of young people in mediation, reconciliation and conflict management.

He added that the organisation also provided humanitarian support during the COVID-19 pandemic and responded to flood disasters through the distribution of relief materials and financial assistance to affected communities.

He explained that peace advocacy extends beyond dialogue, noting that addressing people’s welfare is also critical to sustaining peace.

“In situations where people are suffering, it becomes difficult to talk about peace. That is why our intervention has been holistic,” he said.

Ozoeomena called for intensified grassroots peace campaigns and greater public awareness, insisting that many perpetrators of violence act without fully appreciating the consequences of their actions.

He also urged governments at all levels to provide purposeful leadership, saying national peace and development depend largely on responsible governance.

“Everything rises and falls on leadership. Good leadership is essential if Nigeria is to overcome its current security challenges.

“At the same time, citizens must also take ownership of the peacebuilding process because Nigeria belongs to all of us,” he said.

Speaking on the conference theme, Ozoeomena said “Keeping Peace Alive” was intended to remind individuals, governments and civil society organisations that peace requires continuous effort and must never be taken for granted.

He warned that achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals would remain difficult without lasting peace.

The peace advocate also urged leaders to embody the values they preach.

“The biggest challenge is that many people advocating peace are not peaceful themselves.

“You cannot give what you do not have. Peace must become a personal culture because actions speak louder than words,” he said.

Also speaking, Ibinabobo Sanipe, National Vice President of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM) and Chairman of the Bille Host Community Trust Fund, Evangelist, highlighted the important role of religious leaders in conflict resolution.

He said faith-based organisations must continue working across religious and ethnic divides to foster peaceful coexistence and national unity.

“As a man of God, it is necessary to promote peace, although many people mistake peacefulness for weakness. But peace remains the only path to a stable society,” he said.

Sanipe explained that the objective of the conference was to deepen public understanding of the importance of peace and encourage participants to serve as ambassadors of peaceful coexistence wherever they live and work.

“We expect this programme to make people realise that there is a need for peace in the world.

“As peace ambassadors, wherever we go, in our communities, states and organisations, we will continue to preach peace,” he said.