Former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has identified poverty, unemployment, and weak governance as key factors exacerbating insecurity in the Sahel region. He made these remarks while chairing the first News Agency of Nigeria inaugural annual lecture on Thursday in Abuja, which focused on the theme “Insecurity in the Sahel, 2008 to 2024: dissecting Nigeria’s challenges, genesis, impact, and options.”
Abdulsalami noted that climate change and environmental degradation have also contributed to the growing insecurity, creating a conducive environment for violence and instability. He highlighted that the combination of these issues, along with the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, has significantly impacted the region.
“At the heart of the insecurity in this region, among other factors, are the undercurrents of poverty and unemployment, and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. Weak governance and institutional failures, as well as climate change and environmental degradation, have certainly created a fertile ground for insecurity to thrive, with devastating impacts on our dear nation,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Abdulsalami urged Nigerians to maintain faith in their ability to overcome insecurity, emphasizing that addressing these challenges is a collective responsibility for all Nigerians and Africans. He pointed out that the consequences of insecurity are particularly damaging to Nigeria and the Sahel, stalling their development and progress.
He concluded by stressing that Nigeria’s security challenges are intertwined with the broader regional issues affecting the Sahel, which includes troubled countries like Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Cameroon.