By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – AS Nigerians grapple with insecurity challenges, the British High Commission, International Alert, Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience- OSPRE (National Early Warning Centre of the Vice President) and National Orientation Agency, NOA, Tuesday, called on security agencies to use kinetic and non-kinetic approach to resolve conflicts across the country.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, HE Richard Montgomery, while speaking at the 2nd National Stability Dialogue (NSD) organised by International Alert, Nigeria in collaboration with the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience- OSPRE (National Early Warning Centre of the Vice President) and National Orientation Agency (NOA), said the two-day event will definitely identify applicable strategies that can address the menace of insecurity, especially on non-kinetic and kinetic strategies for lasting peace.

Montgomery said: “We already have a long partnership in security, trade and investment amongst others. We have worked together on improving policing, human rights, promoting women, and others.

“We have supported Nigeria’ s leading efforts to stabilise lake chad basement and to deal with insecurity in the country but we have opportunities to build further on these partnerships particularly with the renewed hope of the new government to address regional security, stability and democracy.”

Earlier, the Country Director, International Alert, Nigeria, Paul Nyulaku – Bemshima, the dialogue will put together some kind of strategic guidance that would be shared with policymakers, across peace stability and security institutions in Nigeria’s security sector.

Nyulaku-Bemshima further stated in his remarks that an advocacy strategy will be set in motion to actualize most of the priority that will be set as a strategy for ensuring that it is implemented.

“This is the beginning of a sustainable process that will take us to where changes will happen from these conversations. We are happy to partner with Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience- OSPRE (National Early Warning Centre of the Vice President) and National Orientation Agency (NOA) with support with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

“I must say that the kinetics and non-kinetics focus on human security and development of the population need to be an integral parts in the society as the peace strategies of the securities forces rather than comprehension is the something that we fine the place to integrate it in the frameworks that drives the military operations that established in the difference part of country.

“And at what point building civil- military coordination is necessary to consolidate on the security apparatus through kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in regions.”

However, the International Alert boss pointed the need to have a common strategy and recognise the non-kinetic approaches, basically focusing on well-being of the people.

“We believe that violent conflict can only be resolved sustainably by those directly affected by it. The solutions to societal problems must by their very nature be applied from within society, which means appropriate changes need to be defined and achieved by people and organisations in the conflict-affected places where we work. The participation and collaboration of those most affected by the conflict, and people with diverse perspectives, are essential for both ending violence and building sustainable peace.

“In a peaceful society, people have fair access to services of decent standards that enable them to live in dignity. We work to address structural limitations and ensure fair access to services, to enable all people to live their diverse lives peacefully.

“As well as satisfying individual needs, such work reduces the risk of some groups’ grievances resulting in violence and enables diverse contributions to peaceful social change”, he added.

In a goodwill message, the Director General, OSPRE, Chris Ngwodo, assured support and preventive measures to tackle challenges to avert bigger conflicts that consumes lives and property.

Also, the Peace and Development Advisor Office of the Resident Coordinator, United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Kimairis Toogood, acknowledged Nigeria’s complex security challenges, and promised UNDP’s support to help.

Meanwhile the Acting Director, Early Warning Directorate, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Onyinye Onwuka, said they are dedicated to coordinated response in bilateral relationship between the Nigerian Government and ECOWAS Commission to strengthen and improve data collection analysis, call response to peace and security in regional conflicts.

“Stressing that our efforts will enforce stronger, regional, peace and stability in the nation, our focus is to break cycles of violence and to build sustainable peace by working with people directly affected by violent conflict to find lasting solutions; shaping policies and practices to reduce and prevent violence, and to support sustainable peace.

“These worrisome developments have apparently necessitated the public to question government’s commitment and strategies employed toward ending the protracted insecurity crisis.

“Many stakeholders and security experts posited ‘soft or non-kinetic approach’ as a plausible mechanism that can be adopted in solving security challenges currently bedeviling the country.

“However, in adopting this strategy, the role of traditional and religious institutions in conflict management, resolution, and prevention as well as maintenance of peace and security can never be downplayed.

“Government will continue to pursue and promote religious harmony and tolerance through mechanisms and initiatives such as religious institutions, associations and interfaith dialogues to enhance national unity and integration ensure effective coordination of the activities of religious institutions to strengthen societal values and curb moral decadence, drug and substance abuse and violent extremism”, Onwuka said.

She also pointed out that, “Traditional institutions are critical to national cohesion and stability. They play pivotal roles in the preservation of our cultures, traditions, values, morals, and beliefs.

“They serve as first-line vanguards in handling communal conflicts and crises, thereby advancing peaceful coexistence amongst our diverse citizenry.”