The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, has advocated for a legislative instrument to fully integrate African nations with a common passport, market and a single custom as well as monetary union.
Mr Gbajabiamila made the call on Thursday at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region 51st Conference in Abuja.
He said there was need to use the instruments of trade and common markets to irreversibly set the continent on the path of prosperity and brotherhood.
The speaker said CPA Africa Region would continue to advance democracy and provide an opportunity for the continents’ parliamentarians to engage with and learn from each other’s challenges.
Gbajabiamila said he was saddened by the reversal of democratic gains made over the past two decades in Sudan, Mali, Guinea, Niger and Chad, amongst others.
The chairperson, Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Zainab Gimba, said women were constrained from achieving the highest leadership position
She said women issues would be at the front-burner during sensitization workshops at the conference.
Reporting by Ibrahim Shehu; Editing by Adeniyi Bakare