The Federal Government has launched the National Community Violence Reduction Programme (NCVRP), a new initiative designed to address insecurity by strengthening communities and preventing the root causes of violence.
The programme was unveiled on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, by the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in partnership with Gray Child Foundation and the Rotary Action Group for Peace – Nigeria Chapter.
Speaking on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the NCTC National Coordinator, Maj. Gen. AG Laka, said Nigeria’s security challenges demand “innovative and people-centred approaches.” He stressed that while the military has traditionally led counter-violence efforts, civil society, community organisations and the private sector are now key players in sustaining peace.
He explained that the NCVRP is a non-kinetic, community-driven intervention designed to promote resilience, reduce extremist recruitment, and support at-risk groups such as women, youth, children, and persons with disabilities.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, commended the inclusive approach, urging that gender perspectives be mainstreamed into the programme. “Families are the first line of defence against violence,” she said, adding that women and youth must be central to implementation.
Chairman of the Gray Child Foundation, Dr. Pietro Uzochukwu Macleo, described the NCVRP as a “home-grown intervention” aimed at scaling grassroots peacebuilding efforts across all six geopolitical zones. He said the programme targets not only prevention but also economic empowerment, youth engagement through technology, sports and the blue-collar economy, and deradicalisation projects in schools and communities.
Rotary Action Group for Peace’s Executive Director, Rotarian Mohammed Ndus Dantata, pledged Rotary’s network of over 774 local government chapters in Nigeria to support the programme, stressing that “we must address not just the symptoms of violence, but the root causes.”
Traditional rulers and state governors also pledged their support. HRH the Esu of Kwali called for a defined role for traditional institutions in implementation, while the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, said the programme would strengthen state-level initiatives against insecurity.
With its emphasis on prevention, inclusion and resilience, the NCVRP is expected to complement the National Counter Terrorism Strategy and the National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism.
Stakeholders agreed that the initiative signals a shift from a purely military approach to one that empowers communities as the first line of defence against insecurity.
