By John Ikani
The Government of Zambia on Tuesday expressed concern over the insurgency, banditry, and other security challenges in the country, assuring that they would help Nigeria.
Zambian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Solomon Samuel, gave the assurance during a press conference to herald an International Peace Concert organised by the Seventh Day Adventist Church with the theme, “Hope in troubled times”, scheduled for this Saturday.
According to him, Zambia said it would help Nigeria because the West African country played a significant role in liberating most Southern African countries against the apartheid regimes.
He added that Zambia was ready to “share intelligence with Nigeria in areas of comparative advantage” to help fight crimes as no meaningful development would be achieved by any country without peace.
What the Envoy said:
“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.”
