Work with us to deter the pillage of Africa’s riches, Tinubu tells world leaders in first UNGA speech
President Tinubu at UNGA on Tuesday
By Ishaya Ibrahim
In his first speech as President of Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which is ongoing in New York City, U.S., President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday urged world leaders to see Africa not as a problem to be avoided or pitied but the key to the world’s future.
Tinubu, who addressed world leaders at the 78th United Nations General Assembly, also urged the international community, particularly the developed world, to crack down on terror financing, economic sabotage, and illicit mineral and arms smuggling in the developing world.
The President said now is the time for UN member states to show, with their actions, that they mean what they say concerning the issues that exacerbate conflict in Africa.
One of the triggers for insecurity and conflict, according to Tinubu, is the theft of the continents rich mineral resources by foreign entities who arm the locals, thereby fueling countless violent enterprises.
“The fourth important aspect of global trust and solidarity is to secure the continent’s mineral rich areas from pilfering and conflict,” the President told other world leaders.
“Many such areas have become catacombs of misery and exploitation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered this for decades, despite the strong UN presence there. The world economy owes the DRC much, but gives her very little.
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“Foreign entities that are abetted by local criminals, who aspire to be petty warlords, have drafted thousands of our people into servitude to illegally mine gold and other resources.
“Billions of dollars meant to improve the nation now fuel countless violent enterprises. If left unchecked, they will threaten peace and place national security at grave risk.
“Given the extent of this injustice and the high stakes involved, many Africans are asking whether this phenomenon is by accident or by design. Member nations must reply by working with us to deter their firms and nationals from this 21st century pillage of the continent’s riches.
“To keep faith with the tenets of this world body and the theme of this year’s Assembly, the poverty of nations must end. The pillage of one nation’s resources by the overreach of firms and people of stronger nations must now end,” the President declared.
Tinubu said his economic development diplomacy that strives for new investment has been effective in presenting Nigeria as a business-ready country, insisting that the issue of ease of doing business may not necessarily be the major encumbrance to large scale investment.
“The question is not whether Nigeria is open for business. The question is how much of the world is truly open to doing business with Nigeria and Africa in an equal, mutually beneficial manner,” he said.
“Direct investment in critical industries, opening their ports to a wider range and larger quantity of quality African exports, and meaningful debt relief are important aspects of the cooperation we desire,” he affirmed.
Turning to the contentious issue of climate change, President Tinubu noted that the global fight against the effects of climate change cannot be based on a “one size fits all” approach.
He emphasized that nations must be allowed to design and implement their own strategies, which are tailored to their respective socio-economic strengths and weaknesses.
“African nations will fight climate change, but we must do so on our own terms. To achieve the needed popular consensus, this campaign must accord with our overall economic efforts. In Nigeria, we shall build political consensus by highlighting remedial actions which also promote the broader economic good.
“Projects such as ‘The Great Green Wall’ to stop desert encroachment; halting the destruction of our forests through the mass production and distribution of gas burning stoves; and the provision of employment through local water management and irrigation projects are examples of efforts that equally advance both economic and climate change objectives simultaneously.
“Continental efforts regarding climate change will register important victories, only if established economies were more forthcoming with public and private sector investment for Africa’s preferred projects and initiatives,” he cautioned.
President Tinubu concluded his address by reminding world leaders what Africa truly represents in the global village.
“Walk with us as true friends and partners. Africa is not a problem to be avoided, nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.”