President Muhammadu Buhari has emphasised the need for governments to renew their social compact with the citizenry so as to improve governance, development and build institutions that promote inclusive security and prosperity, which the current administration is actively pursuing to ensure that no segment of the Nigerian population feels alienated and marginalized.
This was one of the highlights of the address by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday at the 5th Conference of the Network of African Parliamentarians for Defence and Security Committees of the House of Representatives, delivered by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The Conference is a strategic platform that brings together lawmakers from across Africa, as well as representatives of the African Union, AU, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, and the European Union, EU, to exchange ideas, share experiences and deliberate on common approaches to addressing threats to the continent’s collective security.
President Buhari highlighted the efforts by the Nigerian government to address its security challenges, particularly terrorism and insurgency by embarking on an ambitious programme of reforming critical law enforcement institutions while sustaining consistently increased investment in our defence and security sectors.
He also noted that all levels of governments should engage more in partnership with the civil society and development partners to address critical issues on the continent.
President Buhari expressed his gratitude to the newly established European Peace Facility for advancing the cause of defence and security partnership between the African Union and the European Union notably by paving way for bilateral military cooperation. This facility will significantly enhance the capacity to promote peace and stability on the continent.
Applauding the Network’s objective of deliberating on common approaches to address threats to collective security, the President noted the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA, in promoting continental integration through trade and commerce.
President Buhari Reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations as a member of ECOWAS and the African Union and all collaborative endeavours that promote that cause of which the Network is a fine example.
He commended the leadership of the Network and the organizers, urging the parliamentarians to identify gaps, particularly in analyzing the prospects of the European Peace Facility, the ECOWAS Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services, and other relevant Conventions, that will form the basis of legislative and policy actions by countries represented at the Conference.