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Gbajabiamila seeks common passport, market, others for full African integration

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has advocated full integration in Africa, using the legislative instrument to have a common passport, market and a single customs and monetary union. Gbajabiamila made the call at the opening of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region 51st Conference in Abuja on Thursday. He said there was the need to: “Agree to use the instruments of trade and common markets to set us irreversibly on the path to a future of honourable peace, abiding prosperity and brotherhood amongst the nations of Africa.”

The 51st CPA Africa Region event was declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Gbajabiamila, in his welcome address, noted that the CPA Africa Region had and would continue to play an essential role in advancing democracy in Africa. He said: “…let us commit ourselves to using the tools of parliamentary diplomacy and authority to enable the achievement of a common passport, a common market and a single customs and monetary union that will make full African integration possible.

“Let us agree to use the instruments of trade and common markets to set us irreversibly on the path to a future of honourable peace, abiding prosperity and brotherhood amongst the nations of Africa.” The Speaker lamented a situation where Africa witnessed a reversal of the democratic gains made over the past two decades in Sudan, Mali, Guinea, Niger and Chad, amongst others. He thanked both President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for their support in honouring the CPA’s invitation to declare the conference open.

Chairman of the Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentarians, Africa Region, Zainab Gimba said women were constrained from achieving the highest leadership position, noting that issues pertaining to women shall be at the front-burner during sensitization workshops at the conference. There were goodwill messages from Mr. Stephen Twigg, the Secretary- General, CPA; Mr. Ian Liddell-Grainger, the acting chairperson of the CPA International Executive Committee, and the Chairperson, CPA Africa Region Executive Committee and Speaker of Kenyan National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Justin B. N. Muturi, represented by Vice Chairperson of the Executive Committee, Dr. Christopher Elila.

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