Peace Corps Urges FG to Adopt US, UK, Canada Security Models

The Peace Corps of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to adopt security models used in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Brazil to tackle the country’s growing insecurity.

The organisation said Nigeria’s security challenges require a broader strategy that combines conventional military operations with non-kinetic interventions involving specialised auxiliary agencies.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the National Commandant of the Peace Corps, Dr Dickson Ameh Akoh, said national security should not rest solely on conventional armed forces, stressing the need for a more coordinated and multi-layered approach.

According to him, overstretching the military and police by assigning them responsibility for every security challenge weakens operational efficiency and leaves many vulnerable areas exposed.

Akoh argued that adopting the principle of division of labour within the country’s security architecture would enable conventional security agencies to focus on combat operations while auxiliary organisations handle community-based responsibilities such as neighbourhood surveillance, school safety and intelligence gathering.

He said structured, intelligence-driven civil defence initiatives involving young Nigerians would strengthen grassroots security and help prevent criminal activities before they escalate.

The commandant commended President Bola Tinubu for ongoing efforts to reform the nation’s security architecture, describing the initiative as timely and capable of delivering long-term peace and stability.

He appealed to the Federal Government to formally incorporate the Peace Corps into the country’s security framework, noting that the organisation has over 187,000 trained personnel nationwide.

Akoh said the corps could serve as a grassroots information network by gathering and transmitting local intelligence to conventional security agencies and the Office of the National Security Adviser for prompt response to emerging threats.

He added that the organisation also plays a significant role in youth development by providing civic orientation, discipline and preparing young Nigerians for future service in military and paramilitary institutions.

The Peace Corps commandant also appealed to the leadership of the Senate to expedite the passage of the bill seeking to establish the organisation by law.

He expressed optimism that the legislation would receive legislative approval and presidential assent, describing its passage as a milestone that would further strengthen national security while creating opportunities for millions of patriotic Nigerian youths.