Speech At The First International Conference Of The News Agency Of Nigeria On Interrogating The Root Cause Of Violence In The Sahel And Its Impact On Nigeria’s Territorial Integrity Held In Abuja, Thursday, 3rd October, 2024.

It is with great honour and a sense of duty that I address this distinguished gathering today at this historic first international conference organized by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

This gathering is both timely and significant, as it provides us with an invaluable opportunity to delve deeply into the root causes of the violence that has ravaged the Sahel region, examine its impact on Nigeria’s territorial integrity, and explore the options available to policy strategists based on our country’s security architecture.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) stands tall as a beacon of truth, professionalism, and integrity in the field of information gathering and dissemination. Over the years, NAN has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensuring that accurate, timely, and credible news reaches every corner of our nation and beyond.

Through their dedication, they have informed, educated, and enlightened the citizenry, thereby playing an indispensable role in shaping public opinion and promoting national unity.

As the heartbeat of Nigeria’s information network, NAN has been instrumental in chronicling our nation’s journey, capturing every moment of triumph, challenge, and transformation with an objective lens. Their tireless efforts in providing news coverage across diverse sectors – from politics and economy to culture, sports, and human interest stories – have ensured that Nigerians remain informed and engaged with the realities of our society.

Therefore, this platform of discussion created by NAN, is a further testament to their commitment to expanding the frontiers of information dissemination and engagement with critical stakeholders to find solutions to some of the pressing issues confronting us as a nation. Let me commend the Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali M. Ali, and his team for organizing this historic event.

The Sahel region, stretching across Africa from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, has become a vortex of instability, violence, and conflict over the years and those unfortunate scenarios have now escalated into a complex web of terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, smuggling of weapons and violent extremism.

We have witnessed how extremist groups exploit poverty, weak governance structures, and climatic challenges to establish a foothold in the region, which is posing a significant threat not only to the countries directly affected but also to their neighbours, including Nigeria.

Nigeria shares a long and porous border with several Sahelian countries caught up in conflict, making us vulnerable to the spillover effects of the conflict. This not only threatens our security but also challenges our capacity to maintain effective control over our borders.

Undoubtedly, the erudite speakers, policymakers and experts brought together by NAN to dissect the root causes of these armed conflicts will develop innovative solutions to tackle the challenges before us.

Several scholars and experts had earlier attributed these challenges to socioeconomic marginalization, weak governance structures, environmental degradation and climate change, transnational organized crime, and illegal trafficking in arms among others but the spillover effect of these conflicts is taking its toll on our economy, internal security and the socio-economic well-being of our people.

The violence in the Sahel is not an isolated issue, and no single country can tackle it alone. Therefore, Nigeria has stepped up its engagement with its neighbours and other regional and international partners, it’s strengthening joint military operations such as the Multinational Joint Task Force, and also supporting initiatives that aim to stabilize the Sahel region.

On the home front, security has remained a top priority in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and through investment in equipment, manpower, acquisition of more fighting platforms, and intelligence gathering, we are winning the war against insecurity. Since the assumption of office 16 months ago, 12 aircraft have been acquired to boost the fighting capacity of our Armed Forces.

In his Independence Anniversary Address two days ago, the President succinctly captured the successes recorded thus: “On the security front, I am happy to announce to you, my compatriots, that our administration is winning the war on terror and banditry. Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism.

‘’Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever. As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the Northeast, Northwest, and some other parts of the country”. Indeed, this quote from Mr. President has amplified the resolve and determination of this administration to address the security challenges confronting us.

By understanding the root causes, evaluating the impact on our territorial integrity, and implementing strategic policy measures, we can effectively address the challenges posed by this crisis.

The task ahead is daunting, but with determination, collaboration, and a united effort, I am confident that we can safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity and contribute to the restoration of peace and stability in the Sahel region.

I now have the singular honour and privilege to declare the first international conference by NAN open

Thank you, and may our deliberations today be fruitful and impactful.

Mohammed Idris

Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation.

October 3, 2024