WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged Nigerian politicians to stop weaponizing insecurity for political gain during the Nigerian Bar Association's 2024 conference. She emphasized the crucial link between security and socio-economic development and condemned the pervasive issue of crude oil theft undermining Nigeria's economy.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), addressed the 2024 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, urging Nigerian politicians to halt the practice of using insecurity as a political weapon. In her keynote speech, titled "A Social Contract for Nigeria’s Future," she stressed the essential link between security and socio-economic development.
Okonjo-Iweala pointed out that the manipulation of insecurity by political figures undermines governance and threatens the lives and property of innocent citizens. She stated, “We must stop the trend of politicians who believe instigating insecurity makes their opponents look ineffective, as it ultimately harms the Nigerian populace.”
Additionally, the WTO chief addressed the issue of rampant crude oil theft, calling it "intolerable" and emphasizing the availability of technological solutions to combat it. She noted that such theft has significantly affected the country’s economy and foreign reserves and called for decisive action against those responsible.
The conference, themed “Pressing Forward; A National Posture to Rebuilding Nigeria,” was attended by notable figures, including former Ghanaian President John Mahama and various Nigerian officials. Vice President Kashim Shettima represented President Bola Tinubu, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts to address Nigeria's pressing challenges.
