Leadership (Abuja)
Ben Adoga
8 February 2008
Abuja — The Senate has advised President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to assist all relevant security agencies, particularly the army and the Nigerian immigration services, to strengthen security on the Nigeria/Chad border to prevent ongoing crisis in Chad from spilling over to the country.
It also advised the Federal Government to henceforth avoid diplomatic relations with undemocratic nations like Chad and others that have plunged their nations into political crisis.
The Senate passed the resolution following a motion moved by the Senate minority leader, Senator Maina Ma'aji Lawal, and others yesterday over the security implications in Nigeria's neighbouring country, Chad.
The lawmakers also urged the National Commission for Refugees, the United Nations Commission on Refugees and other relevant agencies to provide relief materials to the refugees and other victims of the Chadian crisis, especially in the border towns of Baga, Gamborun Ngala and Malam Fatori to assist the refugees.
Meanwhile, the Senate also called on the Federal Government, the ECOWAS , the European Union, and the African Union, including other international organisations, to ensure lasting peace in Chad.
Earlier, while moving the motion, the ANPP senator from Borno North expressed serious concern over the security risk to the sub-region and Nigeria particularly, the protracted conflict in the Chad had caused.
He observed that the crisis had forced the UN's refugee agency and other international aid organisations to evacuate their entire staff and suspend all relief operations, and that current report has put the refugee from the Chadian crisis in Nigeria at 3,500 persons.
Also, in his debate, Senator Ayogu Eze (PDP, Enugu North) said that Nigeria should re-examine her foreign policy and put the Nigerian citizens first.
He chided Nigeria for failing to take responsibility and provide leadership for the African continent.
Senator Mohammed Mohammed (Bauchi, North) said 60 per cent of armed robbery in the North East zone was masterminded by Chadian rebels and urged the Federal Government to check their incursion as soon as possible.
Earlier in plenary, five bills passed first reading. They were the Police Development Regulatory Board Bill sponsored by Senator Gbenga Ogunniya (Ondo North) and Mohammed Jibril (Kaduna, Central); Discrimination Against Persons and Disabilities (prohibition) Bill, sponsored by Senator Bode Olajumoke and First Degree/Higher National Diploma (abolition and prohibition of dichotomy and discrimination) Bill, sponsored by Senator Ayogu Eze.
Others were the National Emergency Management Agency Act (amendment) Bill and the National Fisheries Commission (establishment) Bill, both sponsored by Senator Umar Argungu (Kebbi North).
Also a bill for an act to amend the National War College Act to provide for change of name to National Defence College went through second reading and was referred to the Senator Ibrahim Ida Committee on Defence and Army to report back in two weeks.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday urged the inspector-general of police, Sir Mike Okiro, and the director of State Security Services, Mr. Afakirya Gadzama, to liaise with the Borno State government to maintain security of lives and property of citizens of the state.
Minister of defence, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, who disclosed this at an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, said the government was closely monitoring the situation in Chad, especially as it relates to the borders and was liaising with relevant stakeholders to check the influx of refugees.
"We have a population of Nigerians of nearly 1.5 million and this is the latest count, none of these lives was confirmed to be lost.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken measures to relocate our chancery to Maiduguri. The Lake Chad Basis Development Authority, which is a joint commission with Nigeria, Chad and Niger is also taking measures to ensure safety of our men and property," he disclosed.
Yayale, who attributed the crisis in Chad to the discovery of oil and the fight for supremacy among ethnic groups in the war-torn country, said the Nigerian Armed Forces have been on alert since the outbreak of the recent crisis.
The minister, who also briefed the committee on the state of recruitment and retirement in the Armed Forces disclosed that a special recruitment of 500 military personnel was carried out last year for the Niger Delta region.
But worried by the influx of refugees into Borno, particularly in Gamborun-Ngala town, yesterday mandated its Committee on Emergency and Disaster preparedness to visit the affected areas and report back within 10 days.
The House, presided over by Speaker Dimeji Bankole, resolved to urge the Federal Government to take urgent steps to ensure that adjoining villages were not over-run by the refugees.
While moving the motion, Bankole noted that the Chadians fleeing the invasion of N'Djamena, the country's capital, by rebels had led to the emigration of over 200 refugees into Gamborun-Ngala, a border town in Borno State.
He said the rate of influx of the refugees was increasing and expressed worry that the influx could give rise to attendant problems such as insecurity, health implication and economic problems such as hike in the prices of foodstuff and other commodities.
To curtail the health implications, such as outbreak of epidemics and other health hazards caused by the high possibility of prostitution such as HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, the House urged the ministry of health to be on alert at all times, while urging the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide emergency relief services to the refugees.
On the security of the area, the House expressed worry that past occurrences have shown that refugees are usually heavily armed and merciless to their hosts.
President Yar'Adua has said Nigeria is watching the situation in Chad, with a view to getting the two sides to the negotiating table.
The President was speaking to the Burkinabe minister of agriculture, water resources and fisheries, Mr. Salif Diallo, who brought a special message from President Blaise Campaore to State House, yesterday
"We are watching the situation in Chad, including the efforts of Libya as mandated by the African Union, and will soon bring the government and the rebels to the negotiating table," he assured.
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