PEPOLAC Urges Nigerians to Make Fight Against Insecurity a Collective Responsibility
The Peace and Positive Living Awareness Centre (PEPOLAC) has called on Nigerians to regard the fight against insecurity as a collective responsibility, stressing that lasting peace can only be achieved through justice, inclusive governance, youth empowerment and stronger community collaboration.
The appeal was made in a communiqué issued by the group’s International President, Bishop Festus Ozoemena, during the 2026 Annual Peace Alive Conference held in Abuja to commemorate World Peace Day.
Ozoemena said Nigeria’s security challenges have expanded beyond isolated acts of violence to include terrorism, insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, communal clashes, farmer herder conflicts, cultism, cybercrime and human trafficking.
He noted that unemployment, poverty, poor governance, inequality and social exclusion have continued to fuel insecurity, while climate change, environmental degradation and competition for natural resources have worsened communal conflicts.
The PEPOLAC President urged the Federal, State and Local Governments to strengthen community based conflict prevention systems, improve intelligence gathering, enhance early warning mechanisms and invest more in youth empowerment, vocational training and poverty reduction programmes.
He also encouraged traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organisations, women’s groups and civil society organisations to play active roles in preventing conflicts before they escalate.
According to Ozoemena, PEPOLAC has continued to promote peace education through school peace clubs, mediation training and humanitarian interventions, including support for communities affected by disasters.
He announced that additional World Peace Day events will hold in Awka, Lagos and South Africa later this year as part of the organisation’s peace advocacy campaign.
The conference, which also marked PEPOLAC’s 10th anniversary, attracted policymakers, diplomats, traditional rulers, security experts, religious leaders, youth organisations and development partners. It also featured the presentation of Global Peace Merit Awards and Peace Ambassadorial honours to several distinguished Nigerians for their contributions to peace, human development and national service.
