Jonathan Clamours For Cooperation To Tackle Sub Regional Terrorism

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Politics Friday, October 24th, 2014

By Niyi Adeyi

President Goodluck Jonathan has advocated for mutual working relationship among the leaders in the sub region to address the multi – faceted security challenges confronting it.

Mr. President made the demand Friday morning in his remarks at the Foundation Stone Laying and Re-Launching Ceremony of the Construction of Seme-Krake Joint Border.

The President who lamented that the sub-region presently faced with many challenges that ranged from the insidious and new wave of terrorism and insurgent activities, to trans-border crimes as human and drug trafficking, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and others, posited that as neighbours and brothers, there was no better option than working together, “in unity and determination, to deal decisively with these threats to our security and stability, which impede our development potential”.

“The increased cooperation and coordination of controls, the exchange of data and intelligence which will result from the implementation of the Joint Border Posts will certainly help our countries, individually and collectively, to successfully confront some of these challenges” President Jonathan affirmed.

The project, Jonathan noted was a very important project and one of the seven posts earmarked for construction in the coming years throughout the sub-region. He stated the objective in ECOWAS was to reconfigure the regional land borders so as to enable efficient and joint border control functions by relevant officials of neighbouring countries, within the respective communities.

Mr. President commended the sub region development partners, like European Development Fund (EDF), which he admitted have been very supportive of the project and working towrads its actualization.

He affirmed: “The Joint Border Post here at Seme-Krake is strategically located on the important Lagos-Abidjan transportation corridor, which forms a vital part of the Trans-African Highway network. It is also an important gateway that unites our people, through constant high volume of trade, and other socio-economic activities.

“I am confident that by simplifying clearance procedures and reducing unnecessary delays and inconveniences associated with existing conventional border posts, the Joint Boarder Post (JBP) will promote greater integration, development and prosperity, within and among the countries of our sub-region”.

President Jonathan stated that the project represented an important movement in the ECOWAS integration protocol as well as enhanced Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, which he added would “ameliorate the present hardship being experienced by border users and officials operating along the Nigeria-Benin borders”.

“We expect an early completion of this and all other Projects so as to help enhance trade and cargo movements across West Africa. This will help to reduce substantially the time spent between border points, and also cut costs incurred on transacting business. The over impact will also contribute to regional economic growth” Jonathan assured.

He thanked President Yayi, the Government and citizens of the Benin Republic, for their partnership with Nigeria, confirming that the launch was another demonstration of mutual strong socio-cultural and economic cooperation which pre-dated the colonial era.

“We built the Oyo and Borgou Empires, and today, we are still building modern socio-economic infrastructure, progressively and constructively, for the benefit and development of our people” recounted the President.