Nigeria Advocates for Regional Cooperation in Security

Enikanolaiye, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, called for stronger regional cooperation at a two-day high-level retreat in Maiduguri, focusing on Nigeria's engagement with neighboring countries. He highlighted that challenges such as terrorism, transnational crime, irregular migration, climate change, environmental degradation, and humanitarian crises require collective action.

Enikanolaiye stressed the importance of diplomacy, dialogue, and economic cooperation in Nigeria's response. Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, welcomed the retreat's location, citing the state's experience in combating insurgency as beneficial for regional cooperation.

Zulum urged for enhanced security cooperation, intelligence sharing, and economic integration, asserting that sustainable peace necessitates more than military efforts. He also called for investment in governance, education, and social inclusion.

Mr. Dunoma Umara, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, described the retreat as strategic for Nigeria's national security and prosperity, emphasizing the historical ties with the Sahel region.

The retreat aims to foster diplomatic engagement and develop strategies for peace and sustainable development across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.