5th Conference Of The Network Of African Parliamentarians For Defense & Security Committees Of The House Of Representatives

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ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE 5^TH CONFERENCE OF THE NETWORK OF AFRICAN PARLIAMENTARIANS FOR DEFENCE AND SECURITY COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE 28^TH OF OCTOBER, 2021

PROTOCOLS

I bring you the very warm felicitations of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari who is unable to attend and extends his apologies on account of him being out of the country at the moment.

He asked me to extend special felicitations to our brothers and sisters from all of the African Parliaments that are present here today.

It is my pleasure to represent him and deliver the speech on his behalf.

It is my pleasure to be at this very important conference which is taking place at a most auspicious season in the history of our nations and our continent.

This forum 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 our collective security.

The timing of this summit could not be more appropriate. This is a challenging phase in the history of Africa’s development. Governments across the continent are dealing with multiple threats ranging from terrorism and piracy to transnational organized crime and insurrectionary challenges to the very legitimacy of our nations.

Here in Nigeria, we are presently grappling with our share of these challenges as posed particularly by terrorism and insurgency. As part of our efforts in responding, we have prioritized our commitment to the constitutional imperative of guaranteeing the security and the welfare of the people. We have embarked upon an ambitious programme of reforming critical law enforcement institutions while sustaining consistently increased investment in our defense and security sectors.

However, we recognize that the threats we face in this borderless age are often both local and transnational. We recognize that an insurrection or conflict in one country can spread like an infection across borders to destabilize neighbours and create even greater threats that jeopardize regional security and stability. This is why strategic multi-dimensional partnerships are essential to guaranteeing the peace, stability, and prosperity of our nations and our continent.

As a conclave of parliamentarians who work on defense and security issues, this forum is of particular importance. The threats confronting us – whether occasioned by climate change-induced conflict or by hostile armed non-state actors require us to deepen our cooperation and strengthen the cross-cutting bonds between our defense and security institutions. As parliamentarians, you have a crucial role in leading domestic advocacy for vital security partnerships in your respective countries.

I am gratified to note that the newly established European Peace Facility advances the cause of defense and security partnership between the African Union and the European Union notably by paving way for bilateral military cooperation. This facility will significantly enhance our capacity to promote peace and stability on the continent.

Beyond this, the partnerships we are required to engage in will take various forms and be actualized along different axes. In building a common front against the forces of destabilization, the principle of human security must be the central animating impulse of our response measures. At a time that non-state actors are violently challenging the fundamental legitimacy of our countries, it is of utmost importance that governments engage in partnership with civil society.  This approach must necessarily encompass not just all of government but all of society.

Mobilizing the full spectrum of our national assets also means engaging the broad expanse of our societies. In order to do this, we must renew the social compact that binds governments and the governed and build institutions that promote inclusive security and prosperity. We recognize that having large segments of our population feeling alienated and marginalized is a critical vulnerability.

The challenge then is for us to develop measures through policy and legislation that creates an umbrella of human security over our people and thereby prevent the forces of destabilization from weaponizing the frustrations of the marginalized. In doing this, we will also ensure that the human and material resources that we should be deploying for growth and development are not consumed in conflict.

The mission of this Network assumes even greater importance given our long-held aspiration towards continental integration. The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is the most recent manifestation of our resolve to open our borders, increase intra-African trade and grow the continent’s economy.

It has long been established that deepening the trade links between our nations would serve as a propulsive engine for driving Africa’s growth. But these objectives would be undermined by unchecked destabilization and insecurity. In the light of this, it is clear that this Network has a key role to play in securing our collective prosperity.

For our own part, Nigeria remains committed to fulfilling its obligations as a member of ECOWAS, the AU and a leading economy on the continent. It also remains committed to the cause of African integration and all collaborative endeavors that promote that cause of which this August Network is a fine example.

On this note, I commend the leadership of the Network and the organizers of this Conference for putting together this important summit. It is my hope that in the course of your deliberations, 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, you will identify gaps that will form the basis of legislative and policy actions by the countries represented here.

I thank you all for listening and it is now my very special pleasure to formally declare open the 5^th Conference of the Network of African Parliamentarians for Defense and Security Committees for the Houses of Representatives in Africa.

Thank you very much.