The much awaited News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Inaugural Annual International Lecture has kick started in Abuja with the arrival of dignitaries drawn from within and outside Nigeria.
The Lecture with theme, ““Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024): Dissecting Nigeria’s Challenges – Genesis, Impacts and Options” was conceived by the management of NAN as part of efforts to tackle the menace of insecurity in the Sahel and Nigeria.
NAN reports that the former Head of State and Chairman of the event, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and Dr Mohammad lbn Chambas, a prominent diplomat and public figure from Ghana, the Guest Speaker arrived the venue on schedule
Chambas is the African Union Chief Mediator o Sudan.
Also on ground is the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu while the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Ministers of Defence and Police Affairs as well as the service chiefs are being expected
The Managing Director of NAN, Mallam Ali Muhammad Ali, has earlier stated that the event was part of the national effort to enliven public discourse on the debilitating security challenges.
He identified terrorism, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, militancy and violent ultra-nationalism, among others as serious security challenges confronting the country.
Ali stated that Nigeria’s security challenges could not be divorced from its regional heritage in the Sahel, a vast landmass which also traverses the troubled countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Cameroon. (NAN)
