By Ibrahim Abdul’Aziz and Musa Umar Bologi, Yola
A former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), has canvassed global summit on Lake Chad Basin to solve the post-conflict challenges and restore peace as well as economic development in the region after the Boko Haram insurgency.
Abubakar made the call at the Regional Conference on Peace Building and Reconstruction in the Chad Basin, organised by the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adama University of Science and Technology, Yola, Adamawa state, in conjunction with the Nigerian Army.
He said the summit would be a catalyst towards mobilising interests and resources to solve various humanitarian crises in the region.
He said, a strong political will on the part of government, together with collaborations with international organisations and involvement of the communities, was also desired to resolve the post-conflict challenges.
He said: “I am aware of the efforts to restore law and order and governance institutions in areas liberated from insurgency. It is also important to begin to act towards processes and activities that will successfully disarm, demobilise and integrate persons who have been involved in the conflict.
“We need to pay more attention that this conflict has involved many groups who have played roles that exposed them to the communities and the conflict. Therefore, an enlightened policy which will stipulate them or reduce the potentials that they will present further break on their own needs to be designed.
“Rebuilding social relations in communities that have gone through violence such as ours, is a major priority. Families and communities have to be reconciled. And reconstruction of basic governance structures, religious leadership and social values are basic building block in this process.”
In his address, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Tukur Buratai, described peace building and reconstruction as a multi-dimensional task that required careful synergy among stakeholders to achieve the desired goal.
He said the army was ready to work with all stakeholders in order to restore peace and security, as well as economic recovery of the North-east.
Buratai said the Nigeria Army would also contribute to the disarmament and rehabilitation of repentant insurgents, as well as contribute to the educational needs of children in the IDPs camps.
He added that Nigerian Army could also be used in civil engineering works and rebuilding of facilities in the region.
“We will continue to provide security in liberated communities and delivery of humanitarian services in the region.”
Also speaking, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kyari Mohammed, said the conference was a convergence of countries affected by the insurgency to develop holistic solution to the post-conflict challenges.
He charged participants at the conference to come up with actionable plans with timelines and deliverables to solve the post-conflict issues.
