INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE: NIGERIA REQUIRES MORE THAN THE END OF CONFLICT As the world observes the International Day of Peace, Nigeria must acknowledge a difficult truth: enduring peace cannot be achieved while citizens continue to face insecurity, hunger, poverty, and despair. Peace means more than the absence of violence. It exists when farmers can travel safely to and from their fields, children can attend school without the threat of abduction, families can afford adequate food, and young people can envision a future in their own country. For this reason, peace must be grounded in effective governance. Governments must safeguard lives, ensure justice, combat corruption, invest in education and healthcare, expand productive opportunities, and manage national resources responsibly. We cannot continue addressing only the visible effects of insecurity while neglecting the circumstances that generate desperation and instability. Every naira misused represents a lost opportunity to strengthen peace. Every citizen left without support reflects a crisis overlooked. Every injustice committed erodes the foundations of peace. Nigeria possesses the resources necessary to become a secure, peaceful, and prosperous nation. What is required is leadership, accountability, and the political will to place the Nigerian people at the centre of governance. On this International Day of Peace, let us pledge to build a Nigeria in which justice is upheld, lives are protected, opportunities are expanded, and every citizen can live with dignity and hope. Responsible governance is the foundation of peace. A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO