Pivot Nigeria has called for a coordinated national effort to unite governments and faith communities in promoting peace and unity in the country.

Its founder, Victoria Uwadoka-Anyianuka, made the call in a statement on Tuesday.

Ms Uwadoka-Anyianuka said, “I am deeply concerned by the recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern by U.S. President Donald Trump due to the unchecked killing of Christians.

“This statement represents a serious reputational risk which can damage investor confidence, deplete tourism, and erode diplomatic capital, no matter how much we contest those labels later.

“We must take responsibility for the statement by Donald Trump, for every action or inaction is a story in itself. Our lack of action and our watered-down messaging fuel mistrust at home and damage Nigeria’s credibility abroad.”

According to her, this crisis that Nigeria is now managing could have been prevented through timely, transparent action to protect lives and properties, as well as proactive engagement with all affected interest groups.

Ms Uwadoka-Anyianuka said that a proactive approach, alongside transparent and consistent engagement with all concerned parties, would have been the best option.

“A reactive statement to the claims is good, but better is a proactive approach leading with truth and appropriate action alongside transparent and consistent engagement with all concerned parties.

“Nigeria can walk back from the reputational damage already done if we consider it a wake-up call and choose to do what needs to be done to end the violence, whatever the reasons behind it.

“We at Pivot Nigeria call for a coordinated national effort to unite government, faith communities, and diaspora voices around tangible and visible efforts to combat terrorism and violent killings,” she explained.

She said that Pivot Nigeria would be happy to support three key actions it recommended, firstly, a weekly “citizen briefing” on the efforts to end violence across Nigeria.

She said the second action was the convening of ‘multi-stakeholder roundtables’ involving government officials, religious leaders, civil society representatives, and community leaders to discuss actions needed to protect lives and properties within the most affected communities.

The other, she said, was the creation of a ‘public data-access’ initiative to provide transparent, evidence-based updates on violence, victims, and government action.

(NAN)