Taraba Peace Committee urges Govt to prioritize conflict prevention in policies

The Taraba State Independent Peace Committee has urged the government to ensure that every policy is curated to encourage peace building and prevent conflicts.

Chairman of the group, Prof. Tella Ngarka, speaking at a forum convened by Search for Common Ground (SFCG) to mark the 2024 International Day of Peace, emphasized that this should be the priority of all governments at all levels.

He noted that entrenching the culture of peaceful coexistence goes beyond rhetoric and requires governments to engage all key players in society.

According to him, “For our communities to thrive, peace must become a norm deeply ingrained in our schools, homes, institutions, and governance.

“Through the establishment of peace commissions, conflict resolution mechanisms, and social protection programs, governments can address the root causes of conflict.

“Cultivating a culture of peace requires the commitment of everyone, including governments, civil society, religious and traditional leaders, educators, and the general citizenry.

“In Taraba State, Nigeria, and the world at large, we must strive to build societies where dialogue replaces violence, inclusion replaces ethnicity, social injustice, and marginalization, and where understanding replaces hatred.”

The State Project Coordinator of SFCG, Dubi Sonam, in his address, explained that continuous dialogue is the pathway to sustaining peace among diverse communities.

He also noted that this task must be collective and should not be left solely to governments and civil society groups.

Sonam said, “At Search for Common Ground, our mission is to transform the way the world deals with conflict away from adversarial approaches and towards cooperative solutions.  

“Today, in Taraba State, we reflect on this goal and its significance, especially in a world that continues to face so many divisions.

“Conflict, as we know, is inevitable. But the way we respond to it is a choice we all make.

“Across Nigeria, including here in Taraba State, we have seen how differences, whether ethnic, religious, or political, sometimes drive a wedge between communities.

“However, we must remember that peace is not the absence of conflict; it is the ability to manage conflict constructively, to sit down together, listen to one another, and seek common ground.”