Commandant NDC Calls For Protection of Sahel Region Against Insecurity
The Commandant National Defence College Rear Admiral MM Bashir has disclosed that, “If we don’t secure the Sahel, it will continue to be a haven for production of extremists and terrorist.
He noted this at the 2022 annual public lecture of the Society for International Relations Awareness (SIRA) at the National Defence College while delivering a lecture on the Implications of Terrorism in the Sahel and its Implications for Democratic Governance. Rear Admiral MM Bashir added that Nigeria and African countries including the international community will be making a big mistake if they believe that the Sahel region is far off and should be left to tackle its problems alone. He stressed that the problem of the Sahel is not a West Africa or East Africa problem. The earlier the rest of the world see it as a global problem and aid the countries in the Sahel with logistics, armaments and training, like is presently being done to assist Ukraine fight off Russian aggression, the better for all of us.
In his welcome address, President of SIRA, Comrade Owei Lakemfa, disclosed that with the right to life, being the most fundamental right of man, it was worrisome that terrorists, bandits and kidnappers were trying to deny citizens that right, hence it must not be allowed to happen.
He said, “The most fundamental of all rights is the right to life. It is that right that the terrorists and bandits are trying to take from us and they must be stopped by all means. Former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Martin Luther Agwai (Rtd) and Chairman for the occasion while delivering his Keynote address warned Nigeria and neighbouring countries to brace up and synergize to tackle insecurity and terrorism in the country. He noted that “If we allow rogues to take over our security and human activity and rule us, we are in deep trouble”.
Dignitaries at the event included the Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Babajimi Benson, Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who was represented by the Executive Director, Nigeria Press Council, Mr. Francis Nwosu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Zubairu Dada, Dr. Bayo Asala, and Col Wilson Ijide (rtd). A book, Continuity, and Change In Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Under President Muhammadu Buhari was reviewed by Ahmed Aminu Yusuf.
