Peace Is Everyone’s Business, Etsu Nupe Tells Nigerians

*Urges govt, traditional rulers, CSOs, religious leaders to unite against conflict

The Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, has called for a united national approach to peacebuilding, warning that fragmented interventions may fail to deliver lasting stability and sustainable development.

The monarch said government agencies, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, religious leaders and other stakeholders must work together and create stronger platforms for coordinating peace initiatives across the country.

He spoke in Abuja during an event organised by the West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA) to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Peace, themed “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”

Represented by the Etsu Kwali, His Royal Highness Luka Ayedoo Nizassan III, the Etsu Nupe described peace as an indispensable foundation for development, security and sustainable democracy.

He stressed that the responsibility for building and sustaining peace should not be left to government and security agencies alone, saying every Nigerian has a role to play.

“Peace is everybody’s responsibility, and we must be conscious of the need to invest in building peace,” he said.

The traditional ruler also raised concern over the lack of sufficient coordination among institutions and organisations involved in peacebuilding, warning that isolated interventions could limit their impact.

According to him, efforts by government agencies, civil society organisations, traditional rulers and other stakeholders may not achieve the desired results without a common platform for collaboration and convergence.

He called for stronger partnerships, information sharing and coordinated strategies to prevent conflicts, address their root causes and strengthen peaceful coexistence among communities.

The monarch also pledged his continued support for WAANSA and its campaigns to promote peace, curb violence and strengthen peaceful coexistence in Nigeria, Africa and across the world.

He said sustained investment in dialogue, tolerance, conflict prevention and community engagement was crucial to building resilient societies where democracy and development could flourish.

The International Day of Peace is observed annually on September 21 to strengthen the ideals of peace and encourage collective action towards building peaceful and inclusive societies.

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