The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has raised the alarm that growing cases of insurrection in some African countries in recent time, were posing a dangerous threat to the peace and security of other nations within the continent.
Buhari stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the 5th Conference of Network of African Parliamentarians Members of Defence and Security Committees.
There have been cases of insurrections in Guinea Conakry, Mali and Sudan between 2019 and date.
The speech of the president who was outside the country, was read by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Buhari noted that the insecurity confronting African nations at the moment were both local and transnational organised crimes.
He called for a concerted multilateral effort and partnership among African countries to confront the challenges.
He said necessary policies and legislation must be put in place to extend security and welfare to all segment of the society so that non-state actors would not take advantage of the vulnerability of the marginalised segment to perpetrate insurrection.
He said, “We felt that the threat we have are local and transnational. We recognise that an insurrection or conflict in one country can spread like an infection across borders to destabilise neighbours, and create an even greater threat that may jeopardise national security and stability.
“This is why strategic, multi-dimensional partnerships such this summit, are necessary to guarantee stability and prosperity of our nations and the continent.
“As a conclave of parliamentarians, working on defence and security issues, this forum is of particular importance to address the threats confronting us either occasional conflicts or by hostile non state actors.”
The president expressed confidence that the trade links among African countries would serve as catalysts for growth, development, stability and peace.
He said the conference would afford parliamentarians all over Africa to deliberate on a common problems affecting the continent and how to surmount them.
Chairman of the National Assembly and President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, lamented the current insecurity challenges facing Africa.
He said, “We considered insecurity in Nigeria to be part and parcel of our legislative agenda and of course, that is the agenda of the Buhari administration as well.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, was represented by Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, said traditional, religious and cultural leaders were best placed to know the real problems confronting the people.
He said, “We are to offer advice where necessary and we pray that the political leaders should implement the advices.”
He added that the partnership of having Africans coming together to take responsibility to solve their own problems was very important.
