President Umaru Musa Yar�Adua has called for faster action on the establishment of a Gulf of Guinea Guard Force, stressing that it will help to address emerging concerns about security in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Communications, Olusegun Adeniyi, Yar�Adua, speaking at a meeting with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea in Addis Ababa, said leaders of member states of the Gulf of Guinea Commission should meet soon to approve modalities for the establishment of the force.
President Yar�Adua, who is attending the 10th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in the Ethiopian Capital, disclosed that he had discussed the establishment of the Guard Force during his recent visit to Washington and expected the United States government to help the Gulf of Guinea Commission with logistics and training for the Force.
Responding to concerns expressed by President Mbasogo about the security threat posed by militancy in the Niger Delta region, Yar�Adua assured that in addition to confronting the developmental challenges of the Niger Delta, his Administration was also taking necessary action to curb criminality in the area.
He said Nigeria�s security agencies have been ordered to dismantle militia camps in the region, adding that Nigeria would cooperate fully with Equatorial Guinea and other neighbouring countries to apprehend perpetrators of cross-border crimes.
Yar�Adua also met with President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi whom he assured of Nigeria�s continued assistance and to other needy African nations, as much as it could.
The Burundian President had earlier expressed appreciation for Nigeria�s past support and assistance. President Yar�Adua had earlier participated in the 18th Summit of the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee on the New Partnership for Africa�s Development (NEPAD).