Choose peace over conflict, Fashola urges Nigerians

A former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, has urged Nigerians to support refugees to prevent displacement and reduce the growing burden of internally displaced persons in the country.

Fashola made the call at an event organised by the African Refugees Foundation to mark the 2026 World Refugee Day, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Olujimi Olusola.

Fashola said beyond providing support for displaced persons, Nigerians must take deliberate steps to prevent the circumstances that lead to displacement.

“We must do whatever we can beyond giving support to refugees to prevent the incidents of displacement from occurring in whatever position we find ourselves,” he said.

According to him, patience and peaceful conflict resolution remain critical in preventing crises.

“The prevention of conflict, the resolution of conflict, if we can prevent it, but certainly not the instigation of conflict,” he added.

Fashola also noted that natural disasters such as flooding and extreme weather conditions contribute to displacement, stressing the need for environmental responsibility.

“When they tell us how to protect, defend and use our environment, there are messages of what we as a people can contribute to prevent events or mitigate events that result in the displacement of people,” he said.

Sharing a personal experience, the former governor said his perception of refugees changed after interacting with displaced professionals.

“The idea of refugees once looked too far away and almost impossible, until I met professionals — lawyers, accountants — who had become refugees. It was a humbling moment.
“That was when it dawned on me that every time we choose conflict over peace, we certainly do not understand the chain reaction we might start,” he added.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mr Olujimi Olusola, said the organisation would distribute cooked and raw food items to about 10,000 refugees, internally displaced persons, and vulnerable individuals across Lagos and other states.

He said the initiative, which was flagged off in Surulere, also featured free health checks and counselling for indigent residents.

Olusola added that the foundation aims to expand its impact by equipping beneficiaries with economic skills, provided adequate resources are available.

He noted that the programme also seeks to raise awareness about the plight of refugees and displaced persons globally.

“Refugees and internally displaced persons are human beings, and anyone can find themselves in such situations,” he said.

Also speaking, Lai Oriowo of Odu’a Investment Company, who represented the Chairman, Bimbo Ashiru, said supporting refugees should be seen as a service to humanity rather than charity.

He emphasised that preventing conflict is essential to ensuring peaceful coexistence, noting that anyone could become displaced in times of crisis.