From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has called for a special African parliamentary forum to address resource conflicts on the African continent.
Abbas explained that the parliamentary special forum would monitor regions with resource conflicts and collaborate with regional legislative bodies to collate data, recommend safeguards, and support community-led development initiatives.
The speaker stated this while speaking at the opening of the 8th Conference of Network of African Parliamentarians for Defence and Security Committees (REPAM-CDS) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He explained that illicit mining, opaque oil contracts, and unregulated timber corridors generate revenue streams that arm insurgents, corrupt institutions, and deny communities the dividends of growth.
According to him, “Where resource governance is weak, violence takes root; where it is transparent and accountable, prosperity and stability follow. Nigeria’s recent reforms illustrate the point.
“I recommend that our parliaments form a special forum to monitor regions with resource conflicts. Let us unite with unwavering resolve to strengthen our committees and harness our natural resources responsibly, ensuring they serve and empower our people.”
The chairman, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Ahmed Satomi, in his remarks, said lawmakers play crucial roles in ensuring effective oversight, transparency, and accountability in the management of natural resources and security forces.
Satomi stressed the need for African parliamentarians to work together to develop solutions to evolving threats on the continent.
He said, “We must work together to develop durable and people-centred security solutions, aligning constitutional provisions with evolving threats and realities on the ground.
“I am delighted that the fundamental objectives of our Network have strongly and strategically positioned us to undertake these responsibilities.
“Let us, therefore, work together to address these pressing security challenges and ensure that our natural resources contribute to the prosperity and stability of our great continent.”
