Nigeria has declared that it was working to prevent Boko Haram from accessing nuclear weapons.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the African Union, Bankole Adeoye made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, as the country assumes the rotational chairmanship of the AU Peace and Security Council, AU-PSC.
Adeoye, took over the position on April 1, from Zackariaou Maiga, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Niger, who held the Chairmanship for the month of March, 2018.
Adeoye said other focus area include countries’ control regimes, including the urgent need for the promotion of peaceful uses of Nuclear Energy.
“Importantly, the AU-PSC will consider the nexus between Corruption and Conflict Resolution and the Imperative of promoting good economic policies in the context of Nigeria’s Championing of the 2018 AU annual theme on anti-corruption under the leadership President Muhammadu Buhari”, he said.
“Furthermore, the PSC will explore strategies towards “Saving the Lake Chad” by Enhancing Environmental Sustainability and Human Security in West and Central Africa and undertake a prospective analysis of Africa’s peace and security landscape by 2023’’, he added.
Similarly, the envoy said Nigeria will engage on fashioning a comprehensive approach towards the prevention of the ideology of hate, genocide and hate crimes on the continent.
He listed other areas to be considered by the Council during the period of Nigeria’s Chairmanship to include: the need for Effective take-off of the AU Humanitarian Agency, AUHA, and ameliorating the Impact of Terrorism and Armed Conflict on Africa’s Social Fabric.
He explained further that Nigeria as chairperson of the Council will prioritise the operationalisation of the African Standby Force, which is a key element of the African Peace and Security Architecture, APSA, and the Sustainable Financing of the African Union Peace Support Operations with particular emphasis on the African Peace Fund.
“The Council will also embark on a Field Mission in solidarity to the good people of South Sudan and to ascertain the level of progress of the peace process in that country being led by the IGAD and supported by the African Union and its partners.
“Overall, with the support of other members of the Council, Nigeria will use its month-long presidency to actively promote sub-regional and continental peace and security in line with the principles of the AU Constitutive Act, UN Charter and the mandate of the Council,” he said.
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