The Network of African Parliamentarians for Defence and Security Committees have commended Nigerians for conducting themselves orderly in the Presidential and National Assembly election.

The network was made up of serving legislators heading committees on security and national intelligence in African parliaments.

The network’s vice-president-general, Jimmy Smith of the parliament of Liberia, gave the commendation during the Seventh Extraordinary Session of the network, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

“I take special honour to say a thank you to the people of Nigeria for a successful election that we have experienced in the past days. It is my hope and wish that peace reigns in this country as Nigeria serves the most exemplary country on the continent, particularly in West Africa. We pray for peace and success of Nigeria,” Mr Smith explained.

He stated that the network was developing modalities that would transform the conditions of youths in Africa, making them vulnerable to insecurity on the continent.

Mr Smith explained that network members do not go around patrolling the street but are briefed on intelligence reports gathered from the security network and shared among the member countries.

“This network has to do with the safety and prosperity of our region; I am a witness to the professional working of this network from the Anglophone side. This has to do with the safety and security of our region; in this network, we seek to foster peace, exchange of intelligence and security technologies, sharing security ideas and information, among others,” he explained.

The president general of the network, Ibrahim Sharada (ADP-Kano), said the objective of the extraordinary session was to carry out the investiture of the newly elected president general.

Mr Sharada said the network had strengthened the national security agencies to address disturbing security threats of Boko Haram insurgents and others.

“It has also propelled the image of Nigeria for setting exemplary leadership in fighting humanitarian crimes and ensuring sustainable Democratic governance within the ECOWAS sub-region and the continent,” the legislator explained.

Mr Sharada added, “In support of this reality, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has facilitated the enactment of laudable public sector reform legislations that have a significant impact on national security,” explaining that a few examples of “such legal frameworks include the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, Electoral Act, 2022, Police Act, 2020, the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act.”

Others are the Terrorism (Amendment Act) 2015, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, the Cyber Crime Act, etc. 

(NAN)