Prof. Sunday Ochoche, former Director-General, International Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, has urged public officials to reduce the number of vehicles in their convoy.

Ochoche made the call in a goodwill message at a lecture to mark the 2015 UN International Day of Peace in Abuja on Monday.

He alleged that public officers in the country used their positions to achieve selfish interests rather than public interest.

The former director-general noted that the gap between the governed and public office holders did not provide the environment for peace.

“The gap between the people at the top and the people at the bottom is too wide, if we must partner, it must be closed,“he said.

In his contribution, retired Maj-Gen. Ishola Williams, Pan African Strategic and Policy Research Group, said that countries must evolve ways to reduce conflicts.

Williams noted that the UN which most nations relied on, cannot bring peace to any nation as the global body was plagued with politics.

He also said that the Nigerian military required strategic doctrines to deal with the current security challenges.

Prof. Abubakar Momoh, Director-General, INEC Electoral Institute, said that Africa has more capacity for violence than peace.

He noted that the exclusion of women, youths and other critical stakeholders contributing to governance, was contributing to conflicts in the country.

NAN reports that the UN had in September 2002 in accordance with its General Assembly Resolution 55/282, declared Sept. 21 of every year as the International Day of Peace.(NAN)