By Iliya Kure
The Lagos State Government has called on residents to embrace peaceful and harmonious coexistence, describing peace as veritable tool for achieving impactful progress and economic excellence.
“In this present day, it is globally acknowledged that the world is in dire need of peace in all nations, hence, we all need to rededicate ourselves to the ideals of peaceful coexistence by being change agents,” Director of Lagos State Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC), Mrs. Biola Oseni, stated in Lagos, at an event to commemorate the International Day of Peace.
According to her, the present administration is determined to foster a mechanism that will ensure development and promote economic activities, knowing that Lagos is not just the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria but the entire Sub-Saharan African States.
“The Government is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the constitutional rights of all citizens and residents are protected by sustaining various institutions under the justice sector such as the Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC), Office of Public Defender (OPD), Directorate of Citizens’ Rights (DCR), and Land Grabbers among others. This is to ensure that the interest of an average citizen, especially indigent and vulnerable in the society, are protected”, she noted.
While stating that all individuals and stakeholders have a role to play in the way we relate, speak and address issues between and among one another, the Director noted that at CMC, matters that could cause enmity among and between residents are resolved within a minimal time frame, free of charge to both disputing parties.
On his part, the National Information Officer, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Nigeria, Dr. Oluseyi Soremekun, said the International Day of Peace is an important and strategic day among all the United Nations International Days, as the day intends to celebrate peace throughout the world.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration, “Recovering Better For An Equitable and Sustainable World”, Soremekun said its aptness cannot be overemphasised in the sense that all nations across the globe are just emerging from the adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and are in dire need of peace for prompt recovery in all facets.
This year’s celebration witnessed “A Walk For Peace”, which took off from the CMC’s office at Alausa to Ikeja and Agege Pen Cinema bridge where residents were sensitised on the need to ensure and sustain peace at all times by approaching the Office for an amicable resolution of varying societal issues causing disagreements.