Nigeria First (Abuja)
1 February 2008
Abuja — President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua has called for faster action on the establishment of a Gulf of Guinea Guard Force, which he said, will help to address emerging concerns about security in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea.
Speaking at a meeting with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea late Thursday January 31 in Addis Ababa, President Yar'Adua said that leaders of member-states of the Gulf of Guinea Commission should meet soon to approve modalities for the establishment of the force.
According to a press statement issued by his Special Adviser Communications, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, President Yar'Adua said that he had discussed the establishment of the Guard Force during his recent visit to Washington and expected the United States Government to help the Gulf of Guinea Commission with logistics and training for the Force.
Responding to concerns expressed by President Mbasogo about the security threat posed by militancy, President Yar'Adua assured him that in addition to confronting the developmental challenges of the Niger Delta, his Administration was also taking necessary action to curb criminality in the region.
He said that Nigeria's security agencies have been ordered to dismantle camps of militants in the Niger Delta, adding that Nigeria would cooperate fully with Equatorial Guinea and other neighbouring countries to apprehend perpetrators of cross-border crimes.
President Yar'Adua who is attending the 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in the Ethiopian Capital, also met with President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi.
Responding to the Burundian President's expression of appreciation for Nigeria's past support and assistance, President Yar'Adua assured him that Nigeria will continue to help Burundi and other needy African nations as much as it could.
President Yar'Adua had earlier participated in the 18th Summit of the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
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