The Society for Peace Studies and Practice has called on President Bola Tinubu to intensify collaborative efforts against insecurity in Nigeria. Speaking at their annual conference in Ibadan, the group's president emphasized peacebuilding as a national responsibility requiring multi-stakeholder involvement.
The Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to enhance collaborative initiatives to address Nigeria's ongoing insecurity challenges. SPSP President Nathaniel Awuapila made this appeal during the 19th International Yearly Conference and General Assembly held at the University of Ibadan. The four-day event, themed 'Economic Challenges and the Tasks of Building Sustainable Peace in a Globalised World,' gathered participants to discuss the links between economic pressures and security threats.
Awuapila described peacebuilding as a shared national duty that necessitates decisive leadership and partnerships across sectors. He pressed the Federal Government to place peace at the core of efforts for economic stability, social development, and national unity. Highlighting insecurity as a significant burden on the nation, he noted it demands immediate action from governments, communities, scholars, and practitioners alike.
'We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to work closely with peace professionals, researchers and grassroots actors to help solve the insecurity confronting our nation,' Awuapila stated. While acknowledging the government's All-of-Government approach, he advocated for an All-of-Nation strategy to achieve enduring solutions. He pointed out that, 65 years after independence, Nigeria still lacks a national peace policy framework, which hinders coordinated peace efforts.
Awuapila called for the development and implementation of such a framework to unite institutions, actors, and communities. He also underscored SPSP's 19-year role in research, dialogue, community engagement, policy advice, and on-the-ground interventions, positioning the society as a key ally in fostering stability. With economic strains and security risks intensifying, speakers at the conference warned that Nigeria's growth goals could falter without robust, coordinated peace measures.
Awuapila encouraged the government to strengthen the country's internal peace mechanisms to protect its future.