President Bola Tinubu has urged African nations to unite in addressing the pressing issues of terrorism and human trafficking. He made this call during a meeting with the new President of Senegal, Bassirou Faye, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.
Tinubu emphasized the need for West African countries to realign their strategies and objectives to effectively tackle regional challenges such as terrorism, banditry, human trafficking, and poverty. He stressed the importance of focusing governance on the welfare of the people to truly reflect the essence of democratic governance.
The President underscored the importance of upholding democratic values and constitutional order, noting that these principles are essential for the sustenance of democracy. He highlighted the critical role of institutions like the judiciary and adherence to the rule of law.
“Constitutional democracy is what Senegal has exemplified to the world and Africa. It is a pleasure to have you here; to meet the hopes and aspirations of our youths. You fit in perfectly well,” Tinubu said. He acknowledged the significant period in West African history for constitutional democracy and praised Senegal’s efforts in promoting freedom.
Tinubu described Nigeria and Senegal as brotherly nations with a long history of cooperation. He called for partnership to focus on democratic commitments and the sovereignty of Africa, questioning how leaders can serve their people effectively while violating the rule of law and supporting unconstitutional government takeovers.
“As Chairman of ECOWAS, I invite you to collaborate and engage with our other brothers. To persuade them to return to the fold. We will continue to work together, embracing and promoting democratic governance,” Tinubu added. He emphasized the need for collaboration in economic growth, development, and governance.
In his remarks, President Faye acknowledged the shared values, ideals, and challenges between Nigeria and Senegal, noting the positive relations that have existed since the 1960s. He called for the reactivation of the Nigeria-Senegal joint commission to strengthen bilateral relations in diplomacy, trade, and other areas.
Faye praised ECOWAS as a model of successful regional integration, attributing its success to the founding fathers of the community. He expressed confidence in Tinubu’s wisdom and experience to strengthen relations among member states and advance the community’s goals.
“ECOWAS is the beacon of successful regional integration in Africa and globally. United, we are stronger. Faced with common challenges such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and other issues, we need to show resolve to confront these challenges so that economically we can thrive and meet the wishes of our people,” Faye said.
