Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the cooperation of the international community including other global, regional bodies and financial institutions will concretize the efforts against unconstitutional changes of government and deter coup plotters.
He said this late Monday while receiving the United Kingdom’s Minister for Africa, Vicky Ford, who was accompanied by British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
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The vice president spoke against the backdrop of the tough stance by leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against recent coups d’etat in the sub-region.
According to him, “there is a lot of attention being paid to coups d’etat going on, especially in the West African sub-region.
“I think it is important that we take a closer look at how to prevent and deter coups d’etat and adventurers of various kinds who want to take over governments by force.
“One of the critical things which have been discussed at various ECOWAS meetings is how to cooperate with the rest of the world, bodies such as the UN, EU and some of the Development Finance Institutions to give our sanctions more teeth.
“So, we think that if there is some cooperation at the multilateral level, we might be able to deter some of these coups.
“I think that it is an issue that we should engage even more on because it is troubling that one after the other, countries are experiencing coups detat,” he added.
Osinbajo, while speaking on the government’s efforts in the area of energy transition and economic development, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the post COP26 agenda while calling on the wealthier countries in the international community to fulfil their obligation, especially in funding gas as a transition fuel.
The vice president, in a statement issued Tuesday by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, commended the United Kingdom’s acknowledgement of Nigeria’s Economic Sustainability Plan, among other efforts to ensure growth in the economy and foster prosperity among the people.
Earlier in her remarks, the UK Minister for Africa recalled the cordial relationship that exists between Nigeria and the UK, noting the need for improved collaboration in the areas of trade and investment, and green energy, among others.
In another development, the Vice President also received at the Presidential Villa, a delegation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, led by its global leader, Elder Todd Christofferson who is based in the United States of America.
At the meeting, while welcoming the delegation of the global Christian denomination, Prof. Osinbajo urged faith-based organisations to speak more for the unity of the country and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.
The vice president also presided over a board meeting of the Border Communities Development Agency, BCDA, virtually earlier in the morning of Monday.
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