Ogundoyin Calls for Comprehensive National Peace Plan amid Rising Security Threats

The Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (CSSLN), Adebo Ogundoyin, has urged the federal government to endorse a comprehensive national peace plan to address Nigeria’s deepening security crisis. He made the call during the opening ceremony of the 19th International Conference of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), held at the University of Ibadan. 

Expressing alarm over the growing incidents of kidnapping, banditry and communal violence across different regions, Ogundoyin stressed that peace must be undergirded by justice, equity and security — not just the absence of conflict. He argued that meaningful development is impossible in a land plagued by fear and instability. 

He lauded recent efforts by state-level leaders to prioritise security, citing as an example a recent forum convened by key governors where insecurity topped the agenda. For him, such coordination must be expanded to a national level, with strategic, long-term planning and commitment from all stakeholders. 

Acknowledging the complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges, Ogundoyin called on federal and state authorities to move beyond reactive measures. He proposed a coordinated framework that strengthens intelligence gathering, improves coordination between security agencies, and fosters collaboration among communities, traditional rulers, civil society and government. 

He urged that security policy should transcend politics, ethnicity and religion, warning against division along those lines. In his view, the nation’s diversity must become a source of strength rather than fault-line exploitation. He asked citizens and leaders alike to unite in pursuit of peace rather than allow identity differences to fuel conflict. 

As a legislator and head of CSSLN, Ogundoyin pledged that state assemblies stand ready to enact laws that reinforce security reforms, oversight mechanisms and community-based policing where appropriate. He emphasised that the legislative arm of government must play a proactive role in shaping and sustaining any national peace architecture. 

He also commended international and regional peace-building organisations — including continental bodies — for their work and urged stronger collaboration between them, the federal government and state institutions. With global partnerships and local resolve, he said, Nigeria can chart a stable path forward. 

In concluding his address, Ogundoyin warned that time for piecemeal responses has passed: the country needs an inclusive, holistic peace plan immediately. Failure to act decisively, he cautioned, risks further deterioration of security — undermining social stability, economic growth, and citizens’ confidence in governance.