Security stakeholders haves suggested the establishment of Federal Ministry of Peace and Conflict Management with parastatal agencies in each of the states as a solution to the insecurity ravaging the country.
The stakeholders spoke at a one-day validation workshop held in Akure, Ondo State capital, attended by representatives of various security agencies and other sectors of the nation.
The One-Day Peace Advocacy on Conflict Mitigation and Sustainable Peace associated with Farmer/Herder violence and kidnapping in Southwest Nigeria, was organised by Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).
They urged the Federal Government to ensure that economic well-being of the citizens was made paramount and as well provide a lasting solution to the twin-problem of unemployment and poverty.
Majority of the speakers noted that conflict was a phenomenon that had been in existence since the creation of the world and would always be with man.
Hence, they said, there was a need for a coordinating ministry for conflict resolution.
They emphasised that ministry had been in existence, the Fulani-herders; the EndSars conflicts that rocked the nation would have been averted or abated.
Dr. Olumuyiwa Apanisile of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife a lead presenter at the meeting stressed the need for peace and conflict resolution ministry.
According to him,, conflict, which is capable of claiming lives and properties, bringing down an entire economy of a nation is worth of having a ministry dedicated to it.
“The ministry will be saddled with the responsibility of investigating, researching, addressing, and mediating in matters that is capable of bringing conflicts at all levels of governance.
“To ensure that adequate measures are taken to prevent any issue from escalating into a major conflicts across the regions of the country”
“This ministry can have parastatals in each of the state for closeness and prompt response to matters and issues before it escalates into conflict and crisis.”
In his own submission, Dr Akinwumi Gideon, state Chairman/Commandant, Vigilance Group of Nigeria, Ondo Stated chapter, suggested the establishment of ranches with cultivable forages and pastures.
He further suggested inclusion of the three major languages of Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo in school curriculum and regulate the minimum age of herders to be 18 after made to pass through some formal education.
The Director-General of the IPCR, Dr. Bakut Bakut, commended the stakeholders for their contributions to major conflict in the country.
“I cannot make any statement now on the Southwest because we are yet to get to the final stage, the researcher just submitted his findings and stakeholders have contributed too, it remains a policy framework yet to be submitted to the government.
He appreciated the researcher, Dr. Olumuyiwa Apanisile of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, and Ile-ife, co-presented by Dr. Taiwo Akinola and Temitayo Odeyemi with a promise to do justice to the findings.
“The stakeholders can help influence and reinforce safe security behaviors among those they lead, while it also allows them to take ownership in security strategies, contributing to their development and fulfillment, and creating greater benefits organisation-wide, the DG submitted.
The highlight of the seminar was the presentation of the research finding to the stakeholders, who also contributed to the way forward in ending conflicts. (NAN)