Former military Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has attributed the growing insecurity in the Sahel region to poverty, unemployment and weak governance.
Speaking at the first News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) annual lecture in Abuja on Thursday, Abubakar also highlighted the role of climate change and environmental degradation in exacerbating insecurity in the region.
He noted that these issues, combined with the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, have created a “fertile ground” for insecurity to thrive, significantly impacting both Nigeria and the broader Sahel region.
Abubakar said : “At the heart of the insecurity in this region are undercurrents of poverty, unemployment, weak governance, and institutional failures, along with climate change and environmental degradation.”
He emphasized that the resulting insecurity has had a devastating effect on development in the region.
Despite the challenges, Abubakar expressed optimism about Nigeria’s capacity to overcome these security threats and called for collective efforts from all Nigerians and Africans to address the situation.
He praised NAN for organizing the lecture, saying it was timely given the increased efforts of the government and other stakeholders to tackle the ongoing security crisis.
The elder statesman also expressed hope that the event would encourage a productive dialogue, helping to identify the root causes and actors involved in the insecurity, and offer sustainable solutions for the future.
(NAN/vitalnewsngr.com)
