Establish peace institute in states, activist urges FG

A human rights activist and Executive Director, Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), Mr Abdul Miliki, has called on states to replicate the federal government’s Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution to promote peace and mediate in conflict situations.
Miliki, who made the call while interacting with newsmen in Lokoja yesterday, said the institute would also be mandated to train, conduct researches and facilitate peace initiatives.
He said there was a marked difference between peace building and security issues, adding that constituting adhoc committees or panels of inquiry to handle such situations was not always the best option.
Miliki noted that the absence of such institutions to engender peace and address post-conflict reconstruction in states had led to escalation and resurgence of such conflicts.
According to him, “When you go to Ogaminana and Ihima today, you see houses and properties burnt or destroyed years ago still standing waiting for repairs.
“What is the government doing? Who is doing research on the conflicts in Bassa and Dekina? Who is actually mediating in Omala, in Abugi, Ihima and others? Almost every local government you go in Kogi state there are conflicts, there are political crisis.
“We should create Peace and Conflict Resolution Institute like what we have at the federal level.
We have Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution created by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999.
“Today, there is a bill pending before the Kaduna State House of Assembly to create similar peace and conflict resolution institute in the state.
“The only state that has established the institute in Nigeria is Plateau state with full-time workers who mediate, train and conduct researches with support from UNDP and other donor agencies,” he said.

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