Pivot Nigeria has urged a coordinated national effort to unite government, faith communities, and diaspora voices in promoting peace and unity across the country.
The call was made by the group’s founder, Victoria Uwadoka-Anyianuka, in a statement released to newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.
Uwadoka-Anyianuka highlighted the recurring violence that has plagued parts of Nigeria over the years. She noted that between November 2022 and the present, analysts and NGOs reported an increase in deadly attacks and forced displacement across the Middle Belt, North West, and North Central regions. She also cited renewed Boko Haram activities in parts of the northeast since 2023, which the government has been addressing.
She expressed concern over the recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by former U.S. President Donald Trump, due to the unchecked killing of Christians.
“This designation represents a serious reputational risk that can damage investor confidence, reduce tourism, and erode diplomatic capital, regardless of how we contest the label later,” she said.
Uwadoka-Anyianuka emphasized that timely, transparent action could have prevented the current crisis, noting that proactive engagement with affected communities is essential.
“A reactive response is good, but a proactive approach, led by truth, appropriate action, and transparent engagement with all concerned parties, is far better,” she said.
She added that Nigeria can recover from the reputational damage if the situation is treated as a wake-up call and decisive actions are taken to end the violence.
Pivot Nigeria recommended three key measures to address the crisis:
- A weekly “citizen briefing” to update the public on efforts to end violence across the country.
- Multi-stakeholder roundtables bringing together government, religious leaders, civil society, and community representatives to discuss measures to protect lives and properties in the most affected communities.
- A public data-access initiative providing transparent, evidence-based updates on incidents of violence, victims, and government responses.
Pivot Nigeria: Reframing the Lens, is a national thought-leadership platform established to reset Nigeria’s reputation agenda and promote peace, security, and social cohesion.
