Problems arising from wars and conflicts had hindered development in the ECOWAS region
Posted by African Press International on July 20, 2007
Lagos (Nigeria) The Secretary to the Nigerian government, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, Wednesday observed that problems arising from wars and conflicts had hindered development in the ECOWAS region.
Addressing a three-day retreat organised to tackle the problem of refugees and displaced persons in the West Africa sub-region organised by the United Nations High Commission for refugees (UNHCR) in Jos, about 300km from Abuja, Kingibe said there was the need to prevent conflicts through good governance and accountability.
In a welcome address, the UNHCR Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Alphonse Malanda, said that the retreat was planned to find solutions to the problem of refugees and displaced persons.
This, he explained was to pave the way for active collaboration within member states in finding solutions to the problem.
He added that the retreat would assess the implementation of an earlier retreat held in Dakar, Senegal, on integration in the sub-region.
Malanda said that the commission was working to restore normalcy in Cote d Ivoire and expressed happiness that peace had also returned to Togo.
The commission, he added, supported the objectives of the ECOWAS Refugees Commission to maintain peace in the sub-region.
Malanda expressed happiness that ECOWAS was working for an integrated sub-region where all citizens would enjoy freedom of movement.
In her remarks, the deputy governor of Plateau State, Mrs Pauline Tallen, listed the series of conflicts that had ravaged the sub-region, causing refugee influx.
Tallen said that Plateau State had its share of upheavals and that the state government was working to promote and sustain peaceful co-existence among citizens.
She said fairness and justice to all citizens were the major elements for promoting development and that any responsible government should work towards promoting justice.
The retreat, which is organised by UNHCR for ambassadors from ECOWAS member states, is being chaired by Burkina Faso. It is on the theme: “Search for durable solutions to the problems of refugees and displaced persons within the West Africa sub-region, and it is being attended by diplomats from Guinea, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Mali, Liberia and Cote dIvoire.
The ECOWAS Commission was also represented.
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