The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for West Africa and Sahel, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, has advised the Federal Government to use Nigeria’s economic endowments to solve the security challenges facing the country.
Ibn Chambas who spoke on Thursday in Abuja while delivering the Keynote Speech at the Fourth Anniversary Lecture of Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited, noted that Nigeria has the largest population in Africa and should make use of its large population.
The UN Envoy, who delivered the lecture on ‘Security and National Development in a Plural Democratic Society’, said irrespective of the country’s populations, non-state actors have perpetuated all manners of criminal acts on the nation.
According to him, “The population of Nigeria is an opportunity the country should utilise in solving the economic and security challenges facing it. I’m also much concerned that non-state actors are preventing national development through their criminal activities. Criminals over the years undermine the security of West African nations and Nigeria is not an exception.
“The region is under attacks by terrorists and we have seen attacks in Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, among others by Boko Haram, which is being described as the deadliest terrorist group in the world today. In Nigeria, new militant groups are emerging in the Niger Delta, farmers and herdsmen are still fighting in the middle belt coupled with the kidnapping and other security challenges facing the country. These are the challenges. But in the middle of all these challenges, the country has stood still in becoming one nation.
“The resolve of the nation in bringing back our girls campaign is highly commended. And the nation set a new world record in the last general elections with the smooth transition of government. The whole region was watching with interest and this has motivated other African nations to conduct fair and violent free elections.”
Ibn Chambas called on the federal government to engage the citizens on how best to end the security challenges facing the country, stating that meaningful national dialogue that involves all the stakeholders and citizens will end the agitations in the country.
“National dialogue is a means of promoting national unity. Nigeria has organised such dialogue in the past but we must make sure that it’s inclusive. Dialogue has sustained Nigeria all these years and should be encouraged for continued sustainability of the nation,” he said.
Chambas stressed that it is so important to invest in education and income-generating activities for youth because it is a sure investment in development and peace building. “It is an investment in the future.
President Buhari has repeatedly emphasized the need to boost the education of youth as a counter-balance to Boko Haram’s appeal to them. Unemployed youth are vulnerable to joining violent and extremist groups.
“Involving youth in the development process, consulting representatives of young women and men, is critical in ensuring their participation in development initiatives.
“In order for these appeals to be reached the targeted audience, the media must play a strong role in the promotion of peace, security and development. This is because terroris thrive on their distorted narratives. We must be aggressive in presenting counter narratives to the terrorists.
“The kind of mobilization required to reverse the current security threats in Nigeria requires a committed, dutiful and vibrant media which places national interest and social cohesion above all sectional concerns. Freedom of expression equally implies advocating for nation-building, national development, the defense of the values of pluralism, and accountability of public officials.”
The UN envoy said that a new vision and thinking has led to the adjusting of the UN’s current peace, security and development toolbox to a changing global environment.
“First, there is a common understanding that military and law enforcement responses alone are not adequate to counter terrorism, prevent violent extremism, and ensure peace and security.
“Alternative approaches addressing the conditions conducive to terrorism; respect for human rights; building strong institutions for development and promoting the rule of law are equally essential. In other words we must tackle the root causes of terrorism.
“In this regard, we need to think harder about how to tackle security threats without hampering social and economic development and without infringing on fundamental human rights. The new approach also highlights the important contributions of women to peacemaking and development,” Chambas said.
In her welcome address, Maureen Chigbo, publisher and editor of Realnews, said that the anniversary lecture is one way Realnews is contributing to the development of Nigeria.
She noted that the choice of the topic was based on the recurrent security challenges in the country. She emphasised the resolve of the company to always publish balanced stories. Chigbo assured Realnews followers that the online media will always serve them investigated and real life stories that affect the less privilege in the society.
Other speakers at the event like Alex Cummings, presidential aspirant in Liberia, Ibrahim Idris, inspector general of police, represented by Don Awunah, police public relations officer, PPRO, and Boboye Oyeyemi, corps marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, emphasised the need for the country to safeguard its territories.
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