President Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has identified corruption and internal conflicts within the African region as the major challenges that should be tackled in a bid to actualize the sixty-year dream of a regionally integrated Africa.
Speaking at Africa’s Presidential roundtable tagged “the next sixty years in
Africa: Looking for Wins” held at Intare Conference Arena, in the Rwandan city
of Kagali, President Muhammadu Buhari said we have identified knowledge
economy, artificial intelligence and delivery of
ideas as well as serene policy environment as answers to Africa’s quest for development.
President Muhammadu Buhari was represented at the occasion by the Attorney-General
of the Federation and Minister of Jusitce, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
This is contained in a statement issued by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special
Assistant on Media and Public Relations Office of the Attorney-General of the
Federation and Minister of Jusitce, Abubakar Malami, SAN and made available to
newsmen on Monday 9th September,
2019.
“To my mind, I think there are major issues that constitute hindrance to
Africa’s integration despite having in place a policy environment that will
allow integration in Africa,” he said.
“I find the issue of corruption and prevailing conflict as serious set-back
militating against the development and integration of Africa. Conflict and
corruption within the region hinder policy environment and delivery of ideas”.
The President charged African Union and stakeholders in the development of
Africa to vigorously pursue the processes of surmounting the challenges posed
by corruption and internal conflict for a regionally integrated Africa and the
next 60 years Africa envisaged.
“If we are talking of having a road network project infrastructure for example
passing through Nigeria, Chad and perhaps down to Southern Sudan, a project
which may take two to three years to complete may end up taking up to 15 years
to complete arising from the conflicts making
access and penetration to projects areas impossible.
On the issue of corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari said if you are talking
of infrastructure, a development project that might cost $1b to execute may end
up consuming much more resources arising from multiplicity of chain of
corruption with the result not having been timely achieved and quality
compromised.
“What are we doing to address these challenges? I think these are the major
components that constitute impediment to the realization of issues related to
the delivery of ideas, knowledge economy couple with infrastructural
development. We must never underrate the negative
effects of corruption and the prevailing conflict situation that are prevalent within Africa,” he said.
Speaking on the same issues, the Chairman of African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat said although there is no conflict between sovereign
African states, internal wrangling within the region characterized by political unrest, insecurity, insurgencies and militancy must be addressed in order to “silence the gun” in the region.
Mahamat decried that over $50b were embezzled in Africa due to corrupt practices, the amount which, he said, was much bigger than combined international aids that the African continent received across the globe. He, therefore, charge Africans to have vision, commitment and
conviction for the region will prosper to a greater level.
The Africa Union High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa,
Raila Amolo Odinga said for “African Lion” to challenge the Asian Tigers, in
addition to thinking of going to the moon should also think of going to
the next galaxy.
According to Odinga, the region must improve its integration approaches, have unified currency, improved implementation of political and economic policies.
In his contribution, Mr. Felix Tshisekedi, the President Republic of Congo said
the development of the region could be taken step-by-step. The President said
he was determined for development of individual Congolese who will develop
themselves to develop their country that will pave the way for the regional
integration and development of the entire African continent.
Vera Songwe, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission
in Africa, emphasized the importance of African Continental Trade Agreement
(ACFTA) improvement of doing business, protection of local industries,
addressing competition policies, intellectual
property right, e-commerce, peace, governance and leadership in Africa.
Speaking on the development, the hosting President, Paul Kagame of the Republic
of Rwanda stressed the need for the African leaders to envisage an African that
is accountable to the people of Africa and for the development of Africans.
He highlighted the various ramifications of free trade, African integration,
uses of technology progress, peaceful, fight against poverty, continental
prosperity and good governance.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nation Media Group Dr. Wilfred David Kibro,
the organizers of the event said the decision to host the programme was
informed by the numerous issues in the African continent including youth
expulsion in the region, climate change, water
scarcity, infrastructural development, boarder, peace and security. He said education, innovation; good governance and having visionary leaders remain the ideas for the Africa to leapfrog the next sixty years.
According to him, intellect is a universal human gift which Africans are
equally endowed with. He said African should use their innovative intellect to
fashion and follow the path of greatness.
Kursi is the Southerly tradewind that blows over the Indian Ocean between April and mid-September, and trade up north along East African coast and between Asia and Africa for millennia. Nation Media Group (NMG) launched the Kusi Ideas Festival as of its
6oth anniversary celebrations, and to begin building a “pan-African ideas transaction market” to capitalize on the opportunities and innovations available to Africa to help her win the 21st Century.
