The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), a National nongovernmental organization using ICT to promote peace and mitigate conflict, foster development, good governance, and societal wellbeing in peace and tranquility is joining millions of people over the world in celebrating the 2020 International Day of Peace with the theme  “Shaping Peace Together”.

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September.

In a statement by Ag program coordinator of the center, Ibrahim Nuhu said The  UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace,  through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

Ibrahim Nuhu Said 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.

According to him COVID-19 has thrown the world into turmoil and forcibly reminded mankind that what happens in one part of the planet can impact people everywhere.

Ibrahim Nuhu noted that It is a real tragedy looking into the overwhelming destabilization of peace and security in some states of North East and North West as people 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.

CITAD further calls for the following measures to alleviate sufferings in human society which is subjected to untold suffering and hardships as follows.

2. We must endeavor 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 peacebuilding.
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 a 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 peacebuilding as

well as entrepreneurship opportunities for youth.

7. CITAD is calling on all the stakeholders and peace actors 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 the 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 a book without fear or favor.

The problem of insecurity in Nigeria has been further compounded by the lack of

technological know-how 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 in ICT in the security sectors

• Governments and individuals should embrace the use of Science and Technology

related research

• There should be a 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:

• Closed 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.