AU delegation urges Nigeria to serve as Africa’s motivator

By Paul Efiong, Abuja

The African Union (AU) delegates on Country Review Mission (CRM), on the second Peer Review process, has urged Nigeria to serve as motivator to other African countries in governance and otherwise.
Prof. Janneh Abdoulie, the Lead Panelist on AU CRM, made the call on Monday in Abuja, at the town hall meeting, organised by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), to engage State/Non- Actors on the review process.
It is recalled that CRM team arrived in Nigeria for two weeks now to further assess the country’s self-assessment record on activities of the APRM, following the approval of the reports by President Muhammadu Buhari for validation.
It is also reports that the review mission visits the country under review and conducts broad-based consultations with government, officials, parliamentarians, and representatives of civil society organisations, media and the private sector to seek their views.
Addressing the participants, Abdoulie said it was a welcome idea for them to be in the country to further assess the reports approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the reports would serve as a reference record for others.
According to him, the review mission will address the four thematic areas of democracy/political governance, economic, social development, corporate governance.
“It is an important process of the APRM that will make Nigeria a mirror in Africa, being the first country to carry out the second review process after four years period given by the AU before another review.
In her contributions, Prof. Christiana Adeyeye, Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), applauded the Nigeria’s APRM Secretariat for its review process to bring more development in the country.
While answering questions on NAFDAC contributions, Adeyeye said the agency was looking at encouraging the local contents for the creation of jobs in Nigeria, to also divert the country from over dependent on foreign goods.