The Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) has called on the government at all levels to stem the tide of violence in the country with a great sense of responsibility.

NIREC in a statement signed by its national co-ordinator, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede and made available to LEADERSHIP in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday, urged governments to do everything within their powers to impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.

"Government as a matter of urgency should create jobs, overhaul infrastructures and thereby make life more meaningful for millions of Nigerians. They should connect with the people, listen to their grievancies, build trust in them and solve their everyday problems, which are factors that make us have government in the first instance", NIREC declared.

The religious body lamented that Nigeria has been going through a turbulent period in recent years as a result of hate and failure to thread the path of righteousness.

"Orgies of violence in some parts of the country especially the north, endemic corruption in the polity, our failing institutions and collapsing infrastructures have tended to give Nigeria a bad image such that our country is now being grouped among the countries it does not belong to", it noted.

NIREC lamented further that, "it is unfortunate that condemnations of violence and calls for restraint by people of conscience have often not changed the reality of sporadic crises going on in the country".

Noting that the nation’s challenges were not insurmountable, NIREC expressed belief that ultimately, reason would prevail and the nation would triumph.