The chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations, Mr Emeka Anyaoku, says Nigeria must seek closer ties with its neighbours in the north-eastern region for the fight against insurgents to yield needed result.
Mr Anyaoku, a former Commonwealth Secretary-General, gave the advice during a meeting with the national conference Committee on Foreign Policy in Abuja on Friday.
The committee is just one of the committees that decided to have an extra meeting on Friday in a bid to ensure that they complete their assignment within the stipulated time.
The National Conference usually does not sit on Fridays but some committees held meetings and sought for suggestions that could help end the insurgency in the north east.
The Committee on Foreign Policy and Diaspora Matters met with the Chairman and some members of the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations, with Mr Anyaoku suggesting some steps Nigeria must take to end terror attacks.
In an earlier meeting in Abuja between President Goodluck Jonathan and the Presidential Advisory Council on International Relations, the increasing insecurity in the north east was discussed. The council expressed worries over the impact that the insecurity would have on Nigeria’s foreign policy.
“We talked about the impact of insecurity on Nigeria’s image abroad and we talked about how the government’s activities to check and control the security incidents in the country could be perfected.
“The president carefully considered all the issues we raised and responded accordingly. Some immediately and others in due course,” he said.
The Nigerian President had said the government would consider a review of the treaty with Chad and Cameroon, sharing common borders with Nigeria in the north eastern region to enable the military pursue insurgents into the countries without restrictions.
At the National Conference, the committee on National Security also met and received a report from one of its sub-committees.
Another committee that planned to meet was the committee on transport, but only one delegate was at the meeting room.
For most of the committees, they will be meeting on Monday to continue where they left off for the week. Each committee will have from Monday till Wednesday to complete their work and come up with recommendations.
The National Conference started in March and they have three months to finish their deliberations on issues of national interest and submit recommendation expected to create a better future for Nigeria.