Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday denounced the “invisible hands” that fund violence in Africa, particularly in his country.
He was speaking at the opening of the 7th Joint Meeting of African Economy and Finance Ministers and those of the Planning and Development Ministries.
The meeting is on the theme “Industrialization at the service of inclusive development and transformation in Africa.”
Jonathan said a lot of arms were being circulated in Africa as well as in the north of Nigeria.
“One can see young people walking with AK 47 that costs US$1000 while they do not have even US$50 with them,” he said, and asked how the arms were bought and from where the money came from.
Jonathan said there were people behind who funded the supply of arms in the country. Nigeria has been fighting terrorists of the Boko Haram sect, especially in the northeastern corner, who have been killing scores of innocent civilians in bloody raids.
This meeting is organized every year by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC). It brings together the African Finance Ministers as well as Planning and Development Ministers, central bank governors and the main actors of the private sector.
The meeting, which ends on Sunday aims at working on concrete suggestions to be used in the implementation of accelerated industrial development in Africa.
