Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku, during the launch and official domestication of the National Community Violence Reduction Programme (NCVRP), the governor emphasised that security has remained a top priority since he assumed office.

He commended the Rotary Club for what he described as another noble humanitarian initiative, noting that no meaningful development can occur without security. According to him, democracy and economic progress cannot thrive in environments plagued by instability, citing examples of countries such as Somalia, Sudan and Syria.

Otti stressed that there is “no hiding place” for criminals in Abia and pledged the state government’s full support for the violence reduction initiative. He officially declared the action-for-peace programme domesticated in the state, aligning it with his administration’s security policies.

Earlier, the Abia State Coordinator of the Rotary Action Group for Peace, Sunny Megwara, underscored the importance of relative peace for sustainable development. He explained that Nigeria’s complex security challenges require innovative, inclusive and community-driven solutions.

Megwara noted that the NCVRP was launched on August 13, 2025, by the National Counter Terrorism Centre in partnership with the Grey Child Foundation and Rotary Action Group for Peace (Nigeria Chapter). The programme aims to address the root causes of violence by strengthening communities, building resilience and preventing conditions that foster insecurity.

He added that the initiative adopts a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, targeting vulnerable and at-risk groups, including women, youth, children, persons living with disabilities, the elderly and victims of violence.

According to Megwara, the programme’s objectives include enhancing community resilience, promoting social cohesion, strengthening local governance and law enforcement, supporting victims of violence, and advancing peace and security frameworks nationwide.

The National Community Violence Reduction Programme is a federal initiative designed to reduce community violence across Nigeria through strategic partnerships and people-centred interventions, with implementation spanning all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.