Former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), has attributed the intensifying insecurity in the Sahel region to poverty, unemployment, weak governance, climate change, and environmental degradation. He revealed these factors at the first annual News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, lecture in Abuja, highlighting these issues as the elements feeding the proliferation of insecurity within the region. Abubakar emphasized that the impact of this situation is causing significant setbacks to the development of Nigeria and the Sahel region at large. However, he maintained optimism, stating that with collective effort, Nigeria and indeed all Africans can overcome the insecurity challenges.

The former Head of State applauded NAN for hosting the lecture, stating that it would provoke productive reactions towards addressing the prevalent issue. He believes that the event is well-timed, considering the increased efforts by the government and other stakeholders to solve the problem. In his view, this platform would enable stakeholders to identify the key players in this situation, understand the root causes and, consequently, offer sustainable solutions.

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