The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Kaduna State Directorate has appealed to Nigerians to eschew violence and embrace peaceful coexistence amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The State Director, Alhaji Zubairu Galadima Soba stated in a statement isuued by the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Abubakar Argungu, on Thursday in Kaduna.
Soba said as the COVID-19 pandemic continue to take its toll on people globally, Nigerians should unite in confronting the challenges posed by the pandemic.
According to the statement, Soba made the call at the first phase of the sensitization campaign in Makarfi, organized on Building People of Peace, with the theme: Working Together to Overcome COVID-19.
The director noted that incidences of violence in many states of Nigeria particularly in some parts of Kaduna state were worrying.
“The issues of rape, banditry and other social vices are also on the increase which posed a new need for increased citizen’s engagement”, he said.
He said that prevention of COVID-19, peace, reconciliation and forgiveness were necessary in building harmonious coexistence and national cohesion.
The NOA director assured that the agency would continue to discharge its mandate of public enlightenment and value reorientation.
He added that the agency would also deploy its peace building platforms in health and security infrastructure to reflect on COVID-19 prevention protocols.
Soba said the sensitization campaign, planned to be executed in four phases, will cover the three senatorial zones and the 23 local government councils in the next four weeks. (NAN)
