Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Bauchi state chapter, says it has set machinery in motion to hold the Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace and Security in the state.

Alhaji Kabiru Kobi, NIPR’s Chairman, stated this while constituting members of the Organising Committee on Thursday in Bauchi.

Kobi said that the institute was committed to hosting such a programme with a view to have stronger and more coherent national engagement to support peace building in the short, medium and long term.

“The concept of the peace and state building have emerged in response to the growing concerns for the security and unity of the nation’s population.

“We need citizens to come together and suggest ways forward on the challenges bedeviling the country.

“We are convening a summit aimed at providing credible platform for initiating a veritable process for national cohesion, peace building and reconciliation,” he said.

Kobi said that the citizens summit is billed to commence at the state levels with the state consultative forum in September, followed by zonal dialogue and national summit in Abuja in November.

The chairman said that the terms of reference of the summit include among others convening forum of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and professional bodies.

He said that other organisations to be involved in the dialogue were socio-cultural and religious organisations, government agencies and individuals, adding that NIPR would partner with the state government to finally produce its position paper.

The committee will be chaired by Malam Inuwa Bello and 12 others members of the institute.