By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigeria’s neighbouring countries to join the fight against insurgent groups as well as the spread of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the sub-region.
Director-General of the agency, Mr. Mike Omeri, told a gathering of Nigerien citizens living in Abuja, at the weekend that it would be unwise to stand aloof in the face of current challenges facing Nigeria as the sub region shares a common economic and socio political environment that require the vigilance and cooperation of all its nationals.
The event, which was a sensitisation programme organised in partnership with the High Council of Nigeriens living abroad, was aimed at creating understanding of religious tolerance, good neighbourliness as a means to security and socio cultural harmony.
The DG, who expressed happiness that the council was seeking ways of collaborating with the authorities in Nigeria said insecurity in Nigeria must be of concern to anyone living inside it urging them to learn from the example of the spread of Ebola to Nigeria.
He said: “Nigeria is a big country that acts as big brother to all its neighbours. Nigerians have brothers all over Africa. What we want is safe stay of all the people from Niger, and other neighboring countries.
“President Jonathan wants all the neighbouring countries to come together and fight insurgency. It does not matter where you are from, we are all brothers.”
The DG, who spoke in Hausa, said it was pointless to point accusing fingers on national of some countries as comprising the insurgent group, adding that almost all the nationals of the sub regions have been identified as activist in the groups including Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.
He directed state offices of the agency to take the campaign of sensitising foreigners living in the country seriously so as to mobilise the entire continent to fight insurgency and the spread of dreaded diseases.
Speaking at the event, the National President of the High Council of Nigeriens Abroad, Alhaji Abubakar Kalidu, said the group was eager to promote the unity of all humanity especially among nationals of the sub region.
He said “this is the time to stop the blame game; to stop the ugly name calling, to stop the heating up the polity with write ups that seek to break us rather than build us.”