By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima yesterday said that President Bola Tinubu is very interested in Nigeria’s security situation and is not taking it lightly.
Shettima called for regional and collective efforts to address the insecurity in West Africa’s Sahel region, observing that “the security situation in the Sahel region has significant implications for Nigeria and neighbouring countries.”
Speaking during an audience with the leadership of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Presidential Villa, the Vice President emphasised the importance of collaborative action and called for broader support for NAN’s upcoming international lecture on Sahel security.
He said, “The international lecture NAN is organising is timely, especially on the issue of insecurity in the Sahel. The President is very interested in and is not taking the security situation in the nation lightly.”
He expressed optimism about the conference’s potential outcomes, saying, “I believe that with the calibre of people that will grace the lecture, you will come up with a lot of perspectives on how to address the insecurity in the Sahel in a holistic way.”
Shettima also commended NAN for its crucial role in Nigeria’s media landscape.
“Your organisation plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s media landscape, helping to bridge the information gap and shape public discussion on national issues,” he said.
Earlier, the NAN Managing Director Mohammed Ali disclosed the conference theme: “Insecurity in the Sahel (2008-2024): Dissecting Nigeria’s Challenges—Genesis, Impacts and Options.”
He announced that Mohamed Ibn Chambas, former Chairperson of the ECOWAS Commission, would be the lead speaker at the lecture, which is scheduled for September 25, 2024.
He said the conference is part of NAN’s efforts to expand its role beyond news dissemination to actively contributing to national discourse and problem-solving.
“NAN is organising its first international lecture as part of the media’s role to expand the frontiers of knowledge and find solutions to problems,” Ali explained.
He outlined several initiatives to enhance NAN’s reach and effectiveness, including introducing vernacular broadcasting, starting with a Hausa portal, plans to reopen international offices, particularly the London bureau, and efforts to intensify coverage across all 109 senatorial districts in Nigeria.
“No one knows Nigeria better than NAN,” Ali added, noting the agency’s extensive network of correspondents and offices nationwide.
Ali also revealed that President Bola Tinubu is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with China’s Xinhua News Agency during his current visit to China to expand NAN’s international partnerships further.
Others present at the meeting included NAN’s Director of Administration, Abdulhadi Khalil; Director of Special Duties, Muftau Ojo; Deputy Director of Multimedia, Ismail Abdulaziz; and Board Secretary, Ngozi Anofochi.
