President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria emphasized the need for unity among West African countries to combat banditry, terrorism, and other criminal activities plaguing the region.
He made this call on Thursday, May 16, 2024 during a meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“We must defeat human trafficking; we must defeat terrorism, banditry, and poverty in our society. That must be our focus and commitment,” Tinubu stated, as quoted by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale.
Tinubu highlighted the longstanding cooperation between Nigeria and Senegal, describing both countries as “brotherly nations.” He underscored the importance of democratic values and the rule of law in achieving sustainable governance. “We are brothers. We have a shared interest in democracy. To make democracy sustainable in the interest of our people, we definitely must work hard,” he said.
The President also called for collective efforts within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to persuade errant members to adhere to democratic principles. “As the Chairman of ECOWAS, I am inviting you to collaborate and meet those other brothers. To persuade them to come back to the fold,” he added.
Tinubu stressed that leaders in the region must prioritize their people in governance, noting, “We must be able to partner and build the freedom we believe in – in economic growth, development, and other spheres of governance. It is left for us to provide assurance to our people and walk our talk.”
In response, President Faye acknowledged the shared values and challenges between Nigeria and Senegal, emphasizing the benefits of strengthened bilateral relations. “The good relations we have and the relations between our private sectors should be beneficial to our countries,” he said.
Faye also called for the reactivation of the Nigeria-Senegal Joint Commission to bolster cooperation in diplomacy, trade, and other areas. He expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership within ECOWAS, saying, “ECOWAS is the beacon of successful regional integration in Africa and globally. It is something we owe to the founding fathers of the community, and I have no doubt that you want to continue this legacy of integration.”
Faye added, “United, we are stronger. Faced with common challenges, such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and all other challenges, we need to show resolve to confront these challenges so that economically we can thrive and satisfy the wishes of our people.”
