The National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dr Dickson Akoh, has urged the Federal Government to include the organisation in its ongoing security reforms.
Akoh made the appeal on Friday in Abuja while briefing journalists to mark the corps’ 28th anniversary and the 2026 Founder’s Day.
He also renewed calls for the speedy passage of the Peace Corps Establishment Bill, saying the organisation’s nationwide presence would strengthen grassroots security and peace-building efforts.
According to him, the corps has grown from 10 members at its inception in Kaduna to more than 187,000 members, with operations in about 93 per cent of Nigeria’s local government areas and command offices in all states.
Akoh said the bill had been passed by the Eighth and Ninth National Assemblies and expressed hope that it would receive final legislative approval and presidential assent.
“We are not seeking to replace conventional security agencies but to complement them through non-kinetic, community-based interventions,” he said.
The commandant disclosed that consultations with the Presidency were ongoing to ensure the Peace Corps was included in the country’s evolving security architecture.
He added that the organisation remained financially self-sustaining through membership dues and internally generated revenue despite not receiving statutory government funding.
Akoh also identified delays in the passage of the establishment bill, legal disputes over the organisation’s national headquarters, and worsening economic conditions as major challenges affecting its operations.
He commended the military, police, and other security agencies for their efforts in tackling insecurity, expressing confidence that the inclusion of the Peace Corps in the country’s security architecture would enhance national peace and stability.