By SARAFINA CHRISTOPHER

Prof. Jerry Gana, former Minister of Cooperation and Integration in Africa, on Monday, called for urgent measures to secure Nigeria’s borders, saying lasting peace cannot be achieved without strong territorial protection.

Gana made the call in Abuja at the commemorative conference of the 2025 International Day of Peace, which also marked the 25th anniversary of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).

He said porous borders remained one of Nigeria’s greatest security threats, enabling cross-border banditry, arms smuggling and criminal incursions that destabilize communities.

“Lasting peace is justice in action. Wherever there is injustice, conflict is inevitable. Leaders must pursue equity, fairness and the protection of human dignity,” he said.

He stressed that without border security, even justice would be at risk.

“If our borders remain porous, conflict will persist,” he added.

The former minister, who established the IPCR during his tenure, also highlighted the link between peace, justice and development.

Quoting the 2025 Global Peace Index, he said: “Violent conflict now affects more than one-third of the world’s nations, costing the global economy over 19 trillion dollars.”

Gana further urged Nigerian youths to embrace innovation and patriotism.

“This country is powerful and gifted. Let us build it, transform it and make it better than America,” he said.

In her remarks, Dr. Onyinye Onwuka, Acting Director of ECOWAS Early Warning, said: “Every day we postpone preventive action, 60 Nigerians die. Yet, we have become numb. Peace must be built proactively through justice, inclusion and socio-economic opportunities.”

Director-General of IPCR, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, said the institute would continue to align its programmes with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by addressing root causes of conflict through peace education, dialogue and community engagement. (NAN)