STORY: Nigerian leader calls for regional counter-terrorism effort to address poverty, inequality
SHOOTING TIME: April 22, 2024
DATELINE: April 24, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:17
LOCATION: Abuja
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the heads of state and officials arriving at the meeting
2. various of the meeting
3. SOUNDBITE (English): BOLA TINUBU, Nigerian President

STORYLINE:
Nigerian president Bola Tinubu called on Monday for the establishment of a regional counter-terrorism center that will serve as a hub for intelligence sharing, operational coordination, and capacity building throughout Africa.
   
Speaking at an international meeting in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, Tinubu said that Africa must take a comprehensive approach to combating terrorism. This includes not just the use of might, but also addressing root causes such as poverty, inequality, and social injustice.

SOUNDBITE (English): BOLA TINUBU, Nigerian President
"We must also attack the roots that feed this evil branch. Terrorism is becoming a greater threat as it perfects ways to continuously finance itself, re-equip, and re-supply itself for its sinister mission. Not only does it kidnap people - it kidnaps precious resources. We shall be knocking on this door of the international community to answer the call for justice, peace, and fair play. The key to our collective efforts against terrorism is the need for a fully operational regional counter-terrorism center."

Tinubu noted that governments are spending billions of dollars on weapons and responding to mayhem, when they should be using that money to sculpt better societies with improved education, healthcare, and nutrition.
   
While explaining the connection between illegal mining and terrorism financing, the Nigerian president charged the international community with rising to the moral and legal challenge that this presents.

Tinubu said that the African region must strengthen existing counter-terrorism structures, but he also underscored the importance of having a regional standby force with a mandate to tackle terrorism.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Abuja.
(XHTV)