By Sumaila Ogbaje
An international non-governmental organisation, Search for Common Ground (SCG), has called for greater adoption of non-kinetic approaches such as dialogue to address insecurity in Nigeria.
The Country Director of SCG, Nigeria, Mr Outtara Karno, made the call during a Health Walk on Monday in Abuja.
The walk was organised in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to mark the 2025 International Day of Peace.
He said the world had relied heavily on coercive measures since the era of the World Wars, but dialogue and collaboration offered more sustainable solutions to violent conflicts.
“There is only one way to achieve peace, and that way is to talk to each other.
“No one wants to live in a place where there is no peace. Challenges can be resolved depending on how you engage with people.
“Some may choose violence, but we advocate dialogue. Nigeria is struggling for peace, and the real challenge is how we work together to achieve it,” he said.
The SCG director stressed that peace and security could not be achieved without community engagement and information sharing.
According to him, there is no security without talking with people. There is no security without information. Security starts with intelligence, and for that, agencies like the NSCDC need people to talk to them.
Karno said SCG had since 1982, worked globally to help communities resolve conflicts through collaboration rather than violence.
Also speaking, the Commandant of NSCDC, FCT Command, Dr Olushola Odumosu, said every country faced conflict, but solutions depended on the approach adopted.
He said Nigeria had combined both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to address insecurity, with positive results.
“Rather than engage in confrontation, it is best we engage in mediation.
“For us in the NSCDC, we have a unit that focuses on alternative dispute resolution as a global approach to resolving conflicts,” he said.
The event featured sporting activities and awareness campaigns aimed at promoting dialogue and peacebuilding among communities. (NAN)
