Peace Corps of Nigeria and the quest for prominence
For awhile now, the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) have been up against different oppositions particularly the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC). In fact the police had to seal off the national headquarters of the body sometimes last year; arresting some members of the group in the process, and till this very moment, the police still maintains a presence within the premises of the national headquarters of PCN despite the fact that the body is a legitimate organization. It is in the face of all these oppositions that PCN has been striving to survive and create a solid foundation needed to outrightly carry out its activities without any disturbance.
The latest challenge this Peace Corps of Nigeria has to contend with is the Preaident's refusal to sign the establishment bill transmitted to him [by the Clerk of the National Assembly] on behalf of the group. Although there has been no official statement from the presidency as to why the bill has not been signed but speculations are rife that since the time frame- a 30-day period- stipulated by law for a bill to be signed has passed, there is a likelihood that the bill has been turned down by President Muhammadu Buhari. According to a report in Vanguard newspaper, a top official in the presidency stressed that "the president could not have assented to the PCN bill because there was no need for such an outfit under the Nigerian security architecture".

A brief history about the Peace Corps of Nigeria
Peace corps is certainly not exclusive to Nigeria as there are similar entities in different countries across the globe. Looking down history lane, the American Peace Corps once had a presence in the country as it envisioned establishing its Nigerian arm.
However, the Peace Corps of Nigeria was founded in 1998 by Amb (Dr.) Dickson A.O. Akoh who is also the group's national commandant. The group is incorporated under the Company and Allied Matters Act of 1990, Part C, and has the backing of the United Nation's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The vision of the Peace Corps of Nigeria is centred on youth development and ways of actively involving the Nigerian youths in nation-building.

The Challenge
The major challenge PCN is presently facing is that it is yet to get the full backing of the government as there have been allegations that its functions overlap that of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies. It has been a tug of war between PCN and the Nigeria Police Force who have [at various times] flouted court orders that were in favour of PCN.
Meanwhile, going through the functions of PCN, it is clear that there are distinctions in the activities performed by these two agencies. The Peace Corps of Nigeria does not disturb the Police Force from carrying out its duties rather, it (PCN) will only complement the security framework. Furthermore, PCN is more inclined towards harnessing the energy of the Nigerian youths for the nation's development.
Some of the functions of PCN [as drawn from the papers made available by the group's media consultant, Mr. Rogers Ochela] are stated as follow:

  • list itemEmpowering and providing gainful employment for youths through peace facilitation, volunteering, community service and other credible avenues.

  • list itemFostering social and economic development by working hand-in-hand with the government, nonprofit organizations, schools, NGOs, etc.

  • list itemTraining youths on models of conflict resolution, mediation, peace education, reconciliation and confidence building.

  • list itemTraining youths on how to build commendable moral attitude and also evoking a consciousness of patriotism and nation-building in them.

  • list itemProviding security- be minded that PCN is not an arm-carrying security agency- in educational institutions and checking examination malpractices.

My Submission
Instead of trying to 'snuff life out' of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, the President should earnestly support the movement since it will help, to some extent, in ensuring that unemployed youths are engaged in something gainful, and also help in promoting peace across the nation. And I do not think the police have any reason to be worried over the existence of PCN- there is no way PCN will make NPF less relevant as it will remain the nation's primary crime-fighting agency. PCN needs the support of the presidency as well as that of other well-meaning Nigerians.