Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be at war? Or to be uncertain of safety? To be constantly traumatised by the constant fear of kidnapping, unknown gunmen, ritual killings, human trafficking, deadly diseases, poor health services and neglect from a system that you had hoped would protect you? The greatest gift a person can have is peace. Even a baby longs for peace at the bosom of his mother’s breast. Peace, what a valuable asset. Just like the harmony from the flowing fountains, Nigeria needs peace.
As citizens of Nigeria walk the streets going about their daily lives, we find people looking as though the next bullet is about to hit them. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2023) highlighted the growing incidents of kidnapping for ransom in Nigeria. Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (2024) also documents the stretch of violence across different parts of the country. This explains why parents fear sending their wards to school for fear of abduction and kidnapping. Hunger seems to be our daily bread because farmers fear for their lives, nor are they sure of not being attacked by herdsmen. A system meant to protect them seems to have failed them. We wonder whether we stand in solidarity or, as our anthem says, “in brotherhood we stand”. Are we really practising that brotherhood we so profess when we have divided ourselves by greed, lies, religious differences and a lot more?
Nigeria is a place blessed with a lot of natural resources, diversity, strength and human resources, yet we stand at a crossroad. Considering the insurgency in the North-East to the banditry in the North-West, pro-autonomy agitations in the South-East, and communal clashes in various regions, instability continues to spiral in the nation. We are not just talking about statistical data; we are talking about real-life stories of promising Nigerians whose dreams were cut short and families displaced.
Have you thought of what these instabilities have brought about? Lack of peace; and without peace, there will be no economic growth, businesses collapse, poverty deepens, health suffers, and education becomes disrupted. Research carried out by the United Nations Development Programme (2021) shows a linkage between insecurity and stalled development in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria is a nation that is at war with itself, and a nation fighting itself cannot grow. Peace is the foundation of growth and development.
Sometimes, you wonder why you find people behaving irrationally, unstable and traumatised. Imagine people living with constant fear, especially those living in conflict zones. These individuals internalise fear as normal. It is also important to note that some individuals turn to substance abuse to subdue pain, leading them to become wild and lawless. These encourage other vices such as theft, armed robbery, rape and many other vices. Apparently, the insecurities and insurgency all contribute to an unstable emotional state, as this claim can be supported by the World Health Organisation (2019), which estimates that 1 in 5 people develop mental health conditions in conflict zones. These experiences and constant exposure lead to anxiety, hopelessness and depression. Peace preserves mental health.
Nigeria requires leaders who ensure the citizens’ welfare over personal gains. These leaders are meant to encourage unity in diversity and growth. With over 250 ethnic groups and multiple religious identities, these diversities should be our strength, our beauty. Communities should be willing to look beyond these differences and embrace unity in diversity.
Civic values should be emphasised in our religious communities, homes, schools, and social media, aiding in the promotion of peace.
Nigeria needs peace because farmers cannot grow food that feeds the nation without it. Without peace, education refuses to be the bedrock of growth and development. We require sustained peace in solidarity to ensure Nigeria’s rise to full potential.
This calls for action. Peace is not just a word to be called like an exclaimed word or a slogan, but a lived reality in Nigeria. Citizens demand accountability, and leaders are called to prioritise justice. Hence, peace should be on the menu at Windsor Castle Banquet come March 18-19, 2026.
Nwanneka Miriam Ike
