President Bola Tinubu, Tuesday, called to an end to the pillage of one nation’s resources by the over reach of firms and people of stronger nations.
The president made this call while addressing the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York. In his speech, Tinubu advocated for sanctions by the UN nations against companies and persons illegally smuggling arms and minerals in and out of Africa.
“The fourth important aspect of global trust is to secure the continent’s mineral rich areas from pilfering and conflict,” Tinubu declared, adding that many such areas in Africa has currently become a catacombs of ‘misery and exploitation’.
He further said, “Foreign entities that are abetted by local criminals, who aspire to be petty warlords, have drafted thousands of our people into servitude to illegally mine gold and other resources.
“Billions of dollars meant to improve the nation now fuel countless violent enterprise,” stressing that if left unchecked will threaten peace and place national security at great risk.
The Nigerian president therefore implored member nations to work together to end the exploitation of the continents rich mineral resources in line with the tenets of the United Nations; and the theme of this year’s Assembly, “the poverty of nations must end.”
He further noted that Nigeria was prepared to do business with the rest of the world in line with his administration’s aggressive, economic development push for new investment.
“The question is not whether Nigeria is open for business; the question is how much of the world is truly open to doing business with Nigeria and Africa in an equal, mutually beneficial manner,” He said.
He concluded his address by saying “walk with us as true friends and partners. Africa is not a problem to be avoided, nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.”
