The Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD, has joinined millions of people over the world, to celebrate the 2020 International day of Peace with the theme, “Shaping Peace Together”.
In a statement by the Acting Program Coordinator, Ibrahim Nuhu, CITAD also called on the Federal government to invest more on Information Communication Technology, ICT, for a peaceful Nigeria.
“Governments should invest more on ICT in the security sectors
“Governments and individuals should embrace use of Science and Technology
related research,” the statement reads in parts.
Read the statement below:
In Nigeria, this year, it has been clearer than ever that apart from enmity, religious and ethnicity crises, we have been battling with especially in the Northern part, our common enemy is a tireless virus that threatens our health, security and very way of life. COVID-19 has thrown our world into turmoil and forcibly reminded us that what happens in one part of the planet can impact people everywhere.
It is a real tragedy looking into overwhelming destabilization of peace and security in some states of North East and North West as we are deeply concerned with the daily hike of violence, killings, kidnappings, burning of people’s properties, herder-farmer clashes, increase in rape cases, domestic violence, and so forth. To this end, we strongly condemn all acts of threatening peace and promoting violence in our dear nation.
Over the last couple of years, CITAD has been coordinating several projects, publications and programs that focus around and promote peace building in the country such as our recent research program, Conflict and Corruption, that engaged youth more to harvest alternative ideas on how we can overcome insurgency in these regions, which emphasizes that unless the embedded corrupt practices in current countering violence are addressed, the Nigeria will continue to experience violence. Some of its findings and recommendations are:
1. Youth empowerment and peace building are the two sides of the same coin; without the former, the later will be contradictions in terms. Similarly, any peace attempt that does not take into account aspect of livelihood will be short-lived. Peace through entrepreneurship offers long lasting solution and sustainability. Peaceful coexistence is key to good governance and sustainable development. As such, concerted efforts must be made towards achieving sustainable peace in our various communities. Without peace there is no progress and when there is lack of progress, development is retarded and human society is subjected to untold suffering and hardships.
2. We must endeavour to explore all the ingredients that build, sustain and consolidate peaceful coexistence and in doing this, young people should be engaged fully to ensure sustainable peace building.
3. Government at all levels must create job opportunities to reduce youth unemployment and restiveness as unemployed youth are being used to perpetrate violence and are at risk of joining violent extremism.
4. Young people should build the culture of peace among them by using innovative strategies and always say no to those who use them to cause violence.
5. Violence is always evil and destructive. It is the responsibility of all patriotic Nigerians to work collectively towards curbing the plague of insurgency, violent agitations and hate speech threatening the peace and corporate existence of the country.
6. Employ the use of ICT tools will surely reduce corruption and enhance peace building as well as entrepreneurship opportunities for youth.
7. CITAD is calling on all the stakeholders and peace actors to, in the interest of peace change the strategies in converting violence and use Conflict resolution and management tools to restore PEACE and security so that people will live in peace and economy will boost.
8. We are also calling on the security agencies to keep their eyes open and continue scouting every citizen, be it a politician or not who engage in any act or say a word(s) of call to action that may trigger violence or disturb peace in any society and bring these perpetrators into book without fear or favour.
The problem of insecurity in Nigeria has been further compounded by lack of
technological knowhow and its application majorly in the aspect of using information technology as a tool in tackling insecurity in Nigeria. Therefore, the following are
recommended:
Governments should invest more on ICT in the security sectors
· Governments and individuals should embrace use of Science and Technology
related research
· There should be proper collaboration between the information technology sector and the Defence and security sector.
· The federal government should ensure proper implementation of ICT tools and
training in all its agencies, departments and parastatals; more especially in the security headquarters and campuses, custom service commission, immigration service offices and others. Such tools include the following:
· Close Circuit Television (CCTV)
· Online Vehicle Registration
· Proper SIM Registration
· GPS locations
Cheap and robust Drones for urban, rural and forest surveillance.
So, we are using this day to call on governments, individuals, security agencies and Civil Society Organizations working on peace to do all we could to allow PEACE to reign.
CITAD wants to end this statement by enjoining people in the Northern states and Nigeria in general to shun violence and cherish peace at all times.
Ibrahim Nuhu.
