Former President Goodluck Jonathan announced that he will be engaging in regular meetings with President Bola Tinubu, focusing on addressing the numerous challenges in West Africa.
During his visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja on July 18, 2023, Jonathan, who currently serves as the ECOWAS Special Envoy in Mali, emphasized the importance of frequent discussions with President Tinubu as part of his mediation responsibilities.
He reassured Nigerians that his regular presence at the Presidential Villa should not come as a surprise, considering his role in addressing the regional issues affecting West Africa.
He said, “I’ve been a part of ECOWAS since 2020 as the ECOWAS Mediator in Mali and now that we’re lucky our President has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS I will be coming here almost every week.
“So, Nigerians should not be surprised because we have a lot of challenges in the sub-region and those were the things we were discussing.”
Former Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd), has urged for a unified and comprehensive approach to address the rising challenge of organized crime in Nigeria.
During his speech at a one-day international conference held in Abuja, Buratai highlighted the crucial role of law enforcement agencies, government institutions, and the general public in protecting the country’s future.
The conference, titled “Emergent Threats to National Security: Organized Crime Networks,” was organized by Igbinedion University, Okada, in collaboration with the Buratai Centre for Contemporary Security Affairs.
Buratai expressed concern about the prevailing situation in Nigeria, revealing that the country scored 7.15 out of 10 in terms of criminality, ranking second out of 54 African countries and first among the 15 West African nations.
“These multifaceted crimes not only undermine the stability and well-being of affected regions but also perpetuate a cycle of violence and exploitation,” he said.
“As the Index results show, the countries with the highest criminality levels are those experiencing conflict or fragility.
“We must learn from this and enhance our socio-economic development, border control measures, counter-terrorism efforts, and law enforcement capabilities.”
