The Government of Zambia has pledged its readiness to assist Nigeria to address the insecurity in the country occasioned by insurgency, banditry, and other challenges.
This offer is hinged on the role that Nigeria played in the liberation of the Southern African region from the claws of apartheid regimes, Sọlọmọn Samuel Jere, Zambian High Commissioner to Nigeria, said on Tuesday.
He spoke at a press conference to herald an international peace concert organised by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The event, scheduled for Saturday this week, has the theme: “Hope in troubled times”.
Mr Jere said Zambia was ready to “share intelligence with Nigeria in areas of comparative advantage” to help fight crimes declaring that no country can achieve any meaningful development without peace.
“If you remember at the time of fighting for the liberation of South Africa, Nigeria joined the Southern African countries and they became one of the five frontline states in enhancing a peaceful coexistence in South Africa.
“It is for this reason that the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has come up with a brilliant method of enhancing peace and to this effect, Zambia would want to identify itself with the Adventist church because of our brothers and sisters in Nigeria who are grappling with insecurity.
“Zambia cannot stand idle and watch our brothers and sisters in Nigeria being faced with acts of terrorism. You must be aware that the Zambian government has a new leader. This government has come up with a new approach. As small as Zambian is, we have a beautiful training programme.
“As I am talking to you now, we have different countries starting from India and different parts of Africa that are in Zambia, training to perfect our acts of fighting terrorism and insurgency.
“On the basis of that, Zambia stands ready to partner with Nigeria and fight crimes. There are areas of comparative advantage like areas fighting fraud, investigating it that Nigeria is strong. Zambia also has an area of advantage that Nigeria will be interested in and it is in that area that Zambia wants to join Nigeria through the peace convert.”
