Lawyers Alert Empowers Journalists to Strengthen Early Warning and Community Safety in Abuja Masterclass

Lawyers Alert has trained journalists and other key stakeholders on people-centred public safety and peace communication during the Peace Communication and Resilience Building Masterclass organised by Dataphyte in Abuja, Nigeria. The Masterclass brought together grassroots media practitioners and civil society actors to strengthen the role of the media in promoting community-led peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

Speaking at the event, the President of Lawyers Alert, Dr Rommy Mom, highlighted the transformative impact of the People-Centred Public Safety Project, describing it as a practical model for addressing security challenges through community ownership and collaboration. He explained that the project places communities at the centre of safety planning and response, fostering trust between citizens and security institutions.

Dr Mom emphasised the critical role of Community Policing Committees (CPCs), describing them as trusted grassroots structures that help prevent conflict and promote safety at the community level. According to him, CPCs serve as reliable early-warning mechanisms, enabling communities to identify risks early and intervene before tensions escalate into violence.

He further stressed the importance of strong collaboration between CPCs, the media, and other stakeholders. Dr. Mom noted that responsible journalism and transparent communication play a vital role in early-warning information sharing, public sensitisation, safety education, and accountability, all of which are essential for sustaining peace and building resilient communities.

Encouraging participants to maximise the learning opportunity, Dr. Mom urged journalists to see the Masterclass as a platform for deepening their contribution to peacebuilding. He also called for the replication of the CPC model across other states, citing the success recorded in Benue State as evidence of the effectiveness of community-led public safety structures.

The Masterclass also featured active participation from our Senior Communications Officer, Linus Egwu, who engaged in discussions on community engagement and the role of the media in promoting public safety. Through the sessions, he gained deeper insights into how trust-building, timely information sharing, and dialogue between communities and security institutions can strengthen safety outcomes.

Egwu noted that the knowledge acquired from the Masterclass will directly inform his work in designing communication strategies for the People-Centred Public Safety Project. He explained that the lessons learned will help ensure that project messaging is more effective, community-driven, and responsive to local security needs.

The People-Centred Public Safety Project is supported by the Open Society Foundations and continues to demonstrate the importance of media engagement, community participation, and transparent communication in advancing peace and public safety in Nigeria.

Written by Linus Egwu