IPCR AND THE QUEST FOR PEACE

Concerns are mounting in Nigeria over the effectiveness and potential risks of the 'Operation Safe Corridor' (OPSC) program, established in 2018 to rehabilitate and reintegrate surrendered Boko Haram members. Many Nigerians, including military personnel, have voiced fears that these "repentant" fighters might exploit the system and return to violence. Recent reports on the activities of some individuals who underwent the rehabilitation program have fueled a growing consensus that the OPSC should be discontinued. This sentiment was echoed in recommendations from a dialogue session in Abuja organized by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR). Participants argued that rehabilitating "low-risk repentant" insurgents while the conflict is ongoing is counterproductive. The dialogue highlighted that the peace and security landscape in Nigeria is becoming increasingly complex, with new conflict actors emerging. Violence is not only recurring but also extending beyond traditional conflict zones. In some rural areas, banditry has created a difficult-to-dislodge illicit economy. This shift from outright conflict to criminality, participants stressed, necessitates a change in strategy and tools. Discussions also focused on the need for a comprehensive national peace policy to address these evolving threats, including those from the digital domain, social media, environmental pressures, and illegal resource extraction. The IPCR had previously drafted a National Peace Policy in 2012 with UN support. International frameworks like the ECOWAS Vision 2050 and the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with UN Secretary General António Guterres's New Agenda for Peace, provide renewed momentum for peacebuilding efforts. Recommendations from the IPCR's recent dialogue included developing dedicated and sustainable funding for peacebuilding initiatives, institutionalizing infrastructure for peace at all governance levels, and integrating conflict sensitivity into development programs. The aim is to concretize peacebuilding efforts in response to the complex and evolving challenges facing the nation.