The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for an agreement by African countries on digital sovereignty, saying this will help them to protect their cyberspace and financial systems without infringing on civil rights.
Declaring open the 8th Annual Conference of the Network of African Parliamentarians on Defence and Security Committees (REPAM-CDS) in Abuja on Wednesday, the Speaker said cooperation among African nations needs to grow stronger as cybercriminal groups and hired mercenaries easily cross borders, hiding their illegal profits through complex trade fraud and digital assets.
The event was organized by the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
Speaker Abbas reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to its leadership role in safeguarding the peace and security of African continent.
“I recommend that our parliaments form a special forum to monitor regions with resource conflicts. This team would collaborate with regional legislative bodies to collect data, recommend safeguards, and support community-led development initiatives. We also call for a continent-wide agreement on digital sovereignty to help countries protect their cyberspace and financial systems without infringing on civil rights,” he said.
He said right from the early days of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Organization of African Unity (OAU, now African Union AU), Nigeria has always taken the responsibility of leading peace keeping initiatives by committing financial and human resources.
“Nigeria has embraced the responsibility of leadership in continental security. From early ECOWAS peace-support initiatives to our current involvement in the Multinational Joint Task Force and the Gulf of Guinea maritime arrangements, we reliably provide troops, intelligence, and mediation. Parliament supports this leadership through legislation, oversight, and ongoing citizen engagement,” he said.
While noting that problems of insecurity in Africa are multi-facetted, the Speaker expressed sadness in the enormity of losses, including those of lives and property to insurgency, armed banditry and kidnapping for ransom.
“Our continent faces many challenges. Poor management of natural resources, open borders, extreme ideologies, and alienation of young people are causing conflicts that threaten lives and institutions. The Sahel region, rich in gold, oil, and minerals, has seen thousands of deaths just this year. West Africa recorded nearly 25,000 civilian deaths between 2021 and mid-2024. These numbers indicate that insecurity in one part of Africa affects the whole continent’s prosperity.”
The Tenth House has sponsored fifteen security-focused bills, including the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons Act 2023, the Armed Forces Amendment Act 2023, and the Cybercrimes Amendment Act 2024. Additionally, extensive revisions to the Police Act, the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act are well underway.”
He noted the level of priority given to issues of security in Nigeria, with the sector enjoying the largest share of annual budgets, especially in the 2025 appropriation.
“In the 2025 budget, the National Assembly supported these reforms with the largest single allocation to defence and internal security in Nigeria’s history, recognising that national development cannot progress while terrorism, kidnapping, cybercrime, and sabotage continue,” he said.
Speaker Abbas pointed out that the struggle for peace on the continent requires the responsible management of natural resources that abound on the continent with a view to prioritising the needs and welfare of the citizenry thereby promoting patriotism and discourage sabotage through effective resource governance.
“The struggle for peace is also a struggle for responsible stewardship of Africa’s natural endowments. Illicit mining, opaque oil contracts and unregulated timber corridors generate revenue streams that arm insurgents, corrupt institutions and deny communities the dividends of growth. Where resource governance is weak, violence takes root; where it is transparent and accountable, prosperity and stability follow. Nigeria’s recent reforms illustrate the point.
“The Petroleum Industry Act has overhauled the governance of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative now publishes disaggregated revenue data, and beneficial-ownership registers are exposing shell companies that once siphoned wealth to shadowy networks. Building on these gains, I have publicly committed to sponsoring a comprehensive amendment of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007.
“This initiative will reposition our solid minerals sector as a pillar of the national economy at a time of dwindling oil revenues and an unavoidable transition to clean, renewable energy. We intend to tighten licensing procedures, secure mine sites, implement community benefit-sharing schemes, and align environmental safeguards with global best practices, thereby cutting off illicit finance to armed groups and unlocking sustainable jobs for our youth.
“Parliament holds key powers over natural resources. Our Appropriation Committees ensure that funds from resources are deposited into a designated account and reviewed annually. The Public Accounts and Anti-corruption Committees monitor funds from bonuses and community levies, insisting on clear contracts and royalty details.”
Speaker Abbas also advocated for the formation of a special parliamentary forum, aimed at monitoring the extractive industries in resource-rich African countries with a view to preventing conflicts.
“Colleagues, the people of Africa are watching us. They want us to turn our debates into real action, to match words with results, and to protect democracy, dignity, and our shared heritage. Nigeria and the National Assembly are ready to help by sharing expertise, creating centres for legislative drafting, strengthening intelligence cooperation, and supporting a free press that promotes accountability. Let us unite with unwavering resolve to strengthen our committees and harness our natural resources responsibly, ensuring they serve and empower our people,” Speaker Abbas said.