Sha’aban Sharadda in the middle with other parliamentarians from different African countries. Photo: Ibrahim Shehu/ Radio Nigeria
Chairman, house of Representatives committee on national security and intelligence, Sha’aban Sharadda, says Nigeria’s security sector reform attracts the attention of sister African countries.
Mr Sharadda made the remark at the 7th extraordinary session of the Network of African Parliamentarians for Defence and Security Committees in Abuja.
The lawmaker said the Buhari-led administration has facilitated the enactment of laudable sector reform legislations that have significant impact on national security and realisation of government agenda, related to development of political and socio-economic rights of Nigerians.
This, he said, include the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021; Electoral Act, 2022; Police Act, 2020; the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, and the Terrorism (Amendment Act), 2015.
The rest, according to him, are: the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015; the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, the Cyber Crime Act, as well as several Constitution Alterations Acts that largely beatified the national security sector reform in the present Democratic dispensation.
“This administration has not only prioritized security on its governance agenda, but has committed more time, logistics and resources to address the national security challenges than any regime in the history of democratic governance in Nigeria,” he said.
Mr Sharada, who is the outgoing President-General of the network, added that landmark feats, such as, the professionalization of the military and intelligence community, enhanced provision of capacity development services, improved international collaboration within ECOWAS states, and consistent increase in annual budgetary allocations for the security sector, have, over the years, also helped a great deal in tackling security challenges across the country.
The new President-General of the network, Berting Mobanzi, who is also chairman of Defence Committee in the Democratic Republic of Congo parliament, commended Nigeria for its its reforms in the security sector, saying it has enhanced its capacity in confronting the growing security challenges within Nigeria and the entire West African sub-region.
Reporting by Ibrahim Shehu; Editing by Abdullahi Lamino and Tony Okerafor