The Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Mrs.Titilayo Shitta-Bey-Jeje has said that adopting different strategies that promote peaceful co-existence is better than investing in interventions that would be deployed when crimes have already been committed.
She stated this on Thursday, during the commemoration of United Nations International Day of Peace 2023, held at Lagos State Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC) office in Ikeja with the theme: “Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the Global Goals”.
According to her, the annual event has been designed as a platform for drawing public attention to the commitment of the Lagos State Government to Amicable dispute resolution and the promotion of peaceful and harmonious coexistence.
The Permanent Secretary averred that teaching people to embrace amicable settlement of disputes will reduce conflict in different communities across the State and will consequently reduce litigations and the amount of taxpayers’ money used in funding them.
She said: “In the discharge of our duties and various responsibilities in our daily lives as children, parents, public servants, private practitioners, religious leaders, there is a need to ensure that our various actions are geared towards a peaceful society to achieve the global goals and also the Lagos State THEMES Plus Agenda of making Lagos the most peaceful, safest and smartest city in Africa”.
On her part, the Director of CMC, Mrs. Abiola Oseni said that the theme of this year’s celebration, “Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the Global Goals”, is very apt because we are all stakeholders in ensuring and maintaining peace right from the nuclear family to the world level, stressing that everyone has a role to play in promoting peace through the way we relate with one another, how we speak and address issues.
She assured that the Lagos State Government is committed to ensuring that the constitutional rights of all its citizens and residents are protected and upheld by creating and funding various institutions in the justice sector such as the Citizens’ Mediation Centre, Office of the Public Defender, the Land Grabbers, Public Advisory Council and Centre for Citizens’ Rights.
Oseni added that the government will ensure that the interests of the average citizen, especially the indigent and the voiceless in society, are protected. All these actions are geared toward enhancing peace in Lagos State.
Also, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Matthais Schmale, in his remarks, said International Day of Peace has availed everyone an opportunity to reflect on the reason the United Nations was established which is mainly to promote international peace and security.
He said the theme has reminded everyone that fostering peace contributed to the realisation of Social Development Goals (SDGs), adding that achieving it will create a culture of peace for all.
Schmale informed that the United Nations will continue to promote peace, the value of tolerance, respect, reconciliation and human dignity, saying “Maintaining Peace is the responsibility of everyone”.
Recall that the International Day of Peace, also officially known as World Peace Day, is a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire on every 21st of September, 2023.
