Hamzat on NTA: FG, Borno Govt Must Back PeacePro’s Vision to Turn Sambisa Into Global Peace Hub

A bold proposal to transform Sambisa Forest from a global symbol of insurgency into Africa’s Peace City has ignited national debate, following the appearance of the Executive Director of the Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro), Abdulrazaq Hamzat, on NTA Hausa’s flagship programme, Fashin Baki.

The programme triggered widespread reactions from viewers across Nigeria, with many calling on the Federal Government and the Borno State Government to support what they described as a historic opportunity to convert the scars of conflict into a legacy of peace, innovation and development.

Hosted by Umar Muhammad Karaci and Shehu Abubakar, the programme explored PeacePro’s proposal to transform Sambisa Forest into a world-class centre for peacebuilding, research, diplomacy, technology, agriculture, entrepreneurship, education and environmental renewal.

Hamzat told viewers that Nigeria’s ultimate victory over terrorism must go beyond military operations to creating institutions and opportunities that make peace permanent.

“The greatest victory over terrorism is not reclaiming territory. It is transforming that territory into a place where peace and prosperity flourish,” he said.

According to him, Sambisa Forest should no longer remain trapped in the memory of violence but should become a global example of how societies can transform conflict into opportunity.

He said Africa’s Peace City would provide a platform for peace research, conflict prevention, international dialogue, innovation and economic development, positioning Borno State as a global destination for post conflict transformation.

Hamzat noted that Sambisa’s strategic location within the Lake Chad Basin, with links to Chad, Cameroon and the Niger Republic, gives the proposed city the potential to serve as a regional peace and development hub for ECOWAS, the African Union and the wider Sahel.

He added that the initiative aligns with ongoing stabilisation, reconstruction and resettlement efforts of the Federal Government and Borno State Government, while creating new opportunities for investment, jobs, tourism and regional cooperation.

The proposal received strong public endorsement during the live broadcast, with callers from Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Nasarawa and other states praising the idea and urging government, regional bodies and investors to support its realisation.

Many viewers described the initiative as a strategic shift from merely managing insecurity to building a lasting peace economy.

PeacePro said it has formally presented the Africa’s Peace City proposal to the Borno State Government, expressing confidence that the project can become one of Africa’s most remarkable examples of conflict transformation.

If delivered, Africa’s Peace City would rewrite the story of Sambisa Forest, reposition Borno as a global model for recovery, and prove that places once defined by destruction can become destinations of hope.

“Sambisa will no longer be known for war. It will be known for peace,” Hamzat said.