Why Nigeria will continue to play big brother role in Africa – Perm Sec

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Adamu Lamuwa, says the role of Nigeria as big brother in Africa had helped in addressing security challenges in the continent.

Lawamu, represented by the Director, Policy, Research and Statistics, Amb. Samson Itegboje, said this at the National Defence College security seminar on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme of the Seminar is “Nigeria’s Foreign Policy and Transnational Security Changes in West Africa”. He said Nigeria’s foreign policy objective on Africa was premised on the basis of its big brother status in the continent and its contributions to peace in different countries.

The Commandant of the college, Rear Adm. Murtala Bashir, said Nigeria has been the largest contributor of military personnel and technical assistance to African countries affected by crisis.

Bashir, represented by the college secretary, AVM David Solomon, added that Nigeria also provided enormous support for regional security, as demonstrated during the Liberian civil war.

The commandant said transnational security challenges in the sub region, still remains an issue of great concern.

“These security challenges, ranging from drug trafficking, smuggling, arms proliferation, and trafficking, to piracy and terrorism, have turned West Africa into a sub region conducive for the operations of transnational criminal activities, more recently with Nigeria.

“These developments have raised concerns about Nigeria’s leadership role and authority within her sphere of influence,” he said.

The commandant said the security seminar was to assess the situation and propose solutions to the issues of declining security in West African states.

He added that the forum would provide evidence based solutions to home and foreign policy issues towards combating the security threats.

Bashir said that NDC, as the apex military institution in the country, was not unmindful the challenges hence the effort to provide strategic solutions to address the challenges. 

(NAN).