By EricJames Ochigbo

Rep. Ahmed Satomi (APC-Borno) has been elected the President, Conference of the Network of African Parliamentarians for Defence and Security Committees.

Satomi, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, was elected at the 8th Conference of the Network of African Parliamentarians for Defence and Security Committees in Abuja.

Satomi, who addressed participants at the closing ceremony, tasked African nations on the need for self-reliance, saying that over-dependence on foreign goods and services was retrogressive to the development of Africa.

He urged African nations to harness the continent’s vast human and natural resources and be self-reliant.

The lawmaker said that it was time to have a paradigm shift from dependence on Western powers and chart a self-reliant path toward peace, development and prosperity, citing Libya as a cautionary tale.

Satomi said that time had come for African countries to act with a unified voice, take control of their destinies and build a continent that reflects its true potentials.

“We have to change the notion and the thinking that we cannot do without the Western influence. 

“Africa is one of the best continents in the globe. There is no reason for anyone to be poor. We have everything it takes to be great,” he said.

He called on African leaders to take bold steps to confront the challenges of terrorism, food insecurity, youth unemployment and weak industrial capacity.

The lawmaker noted that these challenges were militating against the dream of a prosperous Africa.

Satomi pledged to use his two years tenure to champion greater coordination, information sharing and legislative actions to tackle Africa’s security and development gaps.

He said that the Gross Domestic Product (GPD) of Africa is expected to increase to about 4.1 per cent which is higher than the predicted 3.2 per cent by the World Bank.

According to him, the Sub-Saharan Africa’s growth is projected to reach up to 3.5 per cent in 2025 and further appreciate up to 4.3 per cent in 2027.

Satomi pledged to leverage his new position to strengthen continental unity, urging parliamentarians to enact forward-looking legislations, embrace cooperation and innovation and advocate policies that reflect Africa’s realities and future.

He appealed to his colleagues and other stakeholders to embrace cooperation and innovation as well as information sharing in the network to achieve the “Africa of our choice.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu