…say where there is no peace, there is no development
Ahead of the world International Day of Peace, the Catholic Church’s Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), the Eagle Crime Awareness and Prevention Initiative (ECAPI), stakeholders and civil organisations have joined the global call for increased tolerance, dialogue, justice and understanding, in fostering peace in the country.
The groups warned that peace remains the most urgent currency for development in a world fractured by war, poverty, disinformation, and heightened level of insecurity.
They made this call at a press conference held in Lagos and organised by the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ojota to herald a 10KM “Peace Walk” slated on Saturday as part of activities to mark the 2026 International Day of Peace, observed annually.
The event with the theme, “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” the Very Rev Father, Sacred Heart Catholic church, Ojota Lagos, Raymond Anoliefo said the theme represented a shift from viewing peace merely as the absence of war to recognising it, as a deliberate and sustained investment requiring resources, institutions collaboration and collective action.
He said Nigeria and other countries faced complex and interconnected challenges, including violent extremism, farmer-herder conflicts, banditry, communal tensions, youth restiveness, kidnapping and incessant killings and kidnapping underscoring the need to invest in peace for national development.
According to him, “Invest in peace for everyone, everywhere, every day. Peace is not a luxury reserved for prosperous nations nor is it a privilege available only to those with the means to protect themselves from the cost of violence. Peace is a human right. Peace is a public responsibility.
“Nigeria is a nation of extraordinary potentials, rich in talent, faith, culture and resilience. Yet we cannot close our eyes to the insecurity, hardship, displacement and injustice that continue to threaten the dignity of millions. Many families are displayed, children taken from school by fear; is a future that has been placed at risk, hence, the need for peace. peace is not an abstract concern for policy makers but a question of human survival, and it deserves to be treated as one because where there is no peace, there can be no development,” the cleric stressed.
“Without peace, we cannot have food security. Without peace, we cannot have quality education. Without peace, we cannot have good health care. And without peace, it becomes very difficult to attract investment,” he said.
He identified human security, justice, education opportunities and social cohesion as key areas government must focused on to boost peace in the country, noting that human capital development is key.
He called on the government to “Invest in human capital development, promote justice and accountability, create room for dialogue before violence and maintained truth and effective communication.
Similarly, the National Provost Marshal, ECAPI Detective Omotayo Oyeyemi alongside the Lagos State Command PRO, Detective Collins Nniga called for a robust investment in peacebuilding.
ECAPI team expressed commitment to continue to promote course that made for peace “by bridging divides and ensuring everyone’s voice is heard. By safeguarding the human rights and dignity that belong to every person. And by strengthening the proven tools of peace — diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation and peacekeeping.
“ECAPI focused on grassroots community policing, public safety awareness, and intelligence gathering. We work in close strategic collaboration with law enforcement agencies, such as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and local justice ministries, to train volunteers and citizens in local crime prevention to promote peace.”
Earlier, the Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Lagos state, Dr. Mustafa Adedeji Tukur said all citizens have a role to place in maintaining peace in the country.
He said, “A society where people deny justice, they struggle to have lasting peace. Nigerians must maintain discipline, embrace the duty of care, tolerance, respect for one another, show great leadership and remain resilience.
Tukur, who was represented at the event by Sandra Eguavon urged all Nigerians to be peace ambassador for collective growth and development of the nation.
While delivering his keynote address, the Chairman, Institute of Global Peace and Conflict Management, Lagos Chapter, Dr Kenneth Rafua underscored the need for intentional investment and management of peace, adding that, “maintaining peace in the country, requires the collective effort of all. Peace is everyone’s responsibility.”
The UN Secretary-General António speaking during the annual ceremony at the Japanese Peace Bell on the grounds of UN Headquarters in New York appealed urged world leaders to invest in peace as violence, division and conflict exacerbate suffering worldwide.
Participating organisations at the event include, ECAPI, Peace Corps of Nigeria, Institute of Global Peace and Conflict Management, Lagos State Right Hands Initiative, Nigeria Red Cross, The Equal Right Resolution, Creap Initiative, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Lagos State Sustainable Development Goal Office, United Nation Association Nigeria (Youth Wing) amongst others.
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