The Lagos State Government has called on citizens to avoid discrimination against persons and violence as they hinder the development of any society.
The state Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Titilayo Shitta-Bey, made this call, according to a statement on Thursday, during an event to commemorate the 2022 United Nations’ International Day of Peace, in Lagos.
She said, “This year’s theme is centred on racism and it is a well-known fact that racism is a bane to the development of any society. It acts as a virus that eats through the fabric of society and hinders the people in such a society from flourishing. This, however, underscores the need for everyone to shun discrimination in all its ramification.
“Racism is not limited to a colour bias, it cuts across every form of discrimination of the dignity of a person which is enshrined in Sections 34 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution and I advise Lagosians not to engage in discrimination of persons based on their particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion.”
The Director of Lagos State Citizens’ Mediation Centre, Mrs Biola Oseni, noted that the theme of this year’s celebration ‘End racism, build peace,’ was apt because all relevant stakeholders should ensure and maintain peace and must be united in the fight against violence.
A representative of the United Nations, Bolanle Olumeko, said, “The International Day of Peace provides for Nigerians an opportunity to come together and promote the values of tolerance, respect, reconciliation, and human dignity, and remember that being peaceful is the responsibility of every person.”
