Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu has called for the removal of barriers militating against free trade and movement among African countries.
Kalu also called for greater economic partnerships and co-operation amongst Africa countries, stressing that the artificial boundaries that impede free movement of people and goods should be removed.
Speaking when he received the Speaker of East Africa Legislative Assembly, Joseph Ntakirutimana, at the National Assembly, Kalu also said Nigeria will support the candidacy of Dr. Tulia Ackson for the President of Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU).
Kalu said parliaments across the continent must review aspect of their laws impeding economic growth and free movement of people across the continent.
He condemned the xenophobic attacks in some parts of Africa, saying that it stalls unity and progress.
He said: “If you’re part of African Union, why the boundaries, and why the restrictions? The restrictions have underdeveloped the continent more than it has lifted it to measure shoulder to shoulder among the comity of continents.
“These, we must take seriously and this message we must take to all our countries’ parliaments for a review of our various positions on this issue.
“I’m happy to announce that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been made chairman of ECOWAS. We will give all the support that’s expected to make him succeed in his tenure as the Chairman of ECOWAS and that includes the parliament.
“The Speaker of ECOWAS expressed in his speech the need to retool the ECOWAS parliament. We need to review the mechanism used so far by our nations interest in the parliament.
“We need to revisit that so that we can stimulate more interest and more motivation that will no longer stall the speed of ECOWAS parliament, towards realising the continental objective of setting up the ECOWAS parliament.
“We are all one people and we must take steps to reinforce that unity. With unity, we can deal with present challenges which manifest in transnational violence, coup threats in some sub-Saharan African countries, slowing economic growth, climate change, and human trafficking especially in Sahelian Africa. We must not allow this to fester in the near future.
“After the Berlin Conference that started in 1884 and ended in 1885, Africa has never been the same especially due to the artificial boundaries and the negative consequences of colonialism meted on the continent.
“We in Africa are at a precarious time to correct these defects and consequences of that conference. The artificial boundaries created have become impediments to the needed pan-African cooperation, trade and growth for Africa’s development.”