…Defence Chief says good governance is key to national security
The federal government has launched a new grassroots peace programme, the Presidential Community Engagement Peace Initiative (PCEPI), aimed at addressing the growing insecurity in Nigeria’s North-Central region.
The programme, unveiled on Thursday in Jos, Plateau State, is spearheaded by Abiodun Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement for the North-Central.
Speaking during the launch, Ms Essiet explained that the initiative is designed to restore social harmony in a region troubled by recurring farmer–herder clashes, banditry, kidnappings, and communal violence.
“The challenges before the region are more serious and far-reaching; the security situation has led to the tragic loss of lives and property,” she said.
“This incident demands a proactive and intriguing response, one that places communities at the corner of peace. This is why we are gathered here today to launch a new pathway through the Presidential community engagement on the peace initiative.”
Also lending his voice, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, stressed the importance of history in conflict resolution. He urged Nigerians to preserve and pass on the historical experiences that shaped their communities, suggesting that this context could offer meaningful solutions to the region’s crises.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, who officially launched the initiative, described it as timely. According to him, peace efforts are most effective when driven by the people themselves.
“This initiative aims to empower communities to take the lead in conflict resolution and peace-building, recognising that sustainable peace must be local. It will also build bridges of trust between citizens through shared commitment and dialogue,” he said.
Addressing stakeholders at the event, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, noted that good governance remains the most critical tool for solving Nigeria’s complex security problems.
“The military cannot be everywhere; there is no nation that has enough forces to secure the whole of its territorial borders,” the Defence Chief said.
“Nigeria is over 900,000 square kilometres. We do not have the capacity to man everywhere. So, what we largely do is to interface through non-kinetic efforts. The kinetic effort is just about 25 to 30 per cent of the solution; 70 per cent is non-kinetic. And what does that have to do with anything? It has to do with good governance, and good governance has a lot of layers. Giving everyone a sense of belonging is a critical aspect of good governance.”
General Musa, who spoke as a special guest at the event, noted that the armed forces cannot solve Nigeria’s security crisis alone.
He urged traditional leaders to take the lead in identifying criminal elements within their communities and strengthening local structures that promote peace and reassured Nigerians that the military will continue to operate professionally while supporting peace-building efforts at all levels.
The launch attracted traditional rulers, community leaders, and representatives from various states in the North-Central, all of whom echoed the need for community-driven solutions to the insecurity that continues to haunt the region.
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