The United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, has pledged the UN’s full support for the federal government's fight against terrorism even as he advised President Muhammadu Buhari to address the underlying causes of insurgency in the country.
Speaking at a joint press conference with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the UN scribe said that no efforts should be spared to make sure that the abducted Chibok schoolgirls are found and reintegrated into the society.
He also expressed support for the reforms embarked upon by Buhari.
He said: “The UN supports your efforts to advance hope, peace, sustainable development and human rights in a comprehensive way. I'm convinced that when you change Nigeria, you will also change Africa.”
He commended the Nigerian people, especially former President Goodluck Jonathan for “the peaceful, free and fair election,” which he said had earned Nigeria the respect of the world.
He said: “I salute the statesmanship of example of both President Buhari and for President Goodluck Jonathan. For the first time in Nigerian history, a sitting president peacefully ceded power to an opposition candidate in a democratic election. The elections sent a strong global message of respect for democracy and the rule of law.”
He said Nigeria has been a source of stability in West Africa and the wider continent, and described Nigeria as a key contributor to UN peacekeeping operations including successful missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“Nigeria is once again playing a crucial role in the UN Security Council over which Ambassador Joy Ogwu is now presiding this month as president of the Security Council,” he added.
He commended Buhari for prioritising insecurity, wiping out corruption and unemployment issues.
He said: “President Buhari and I discussed a full range of issues covering development, human rights, peace and security including the cause of troubling levels of violence and terror perpetuated by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria and beyond.
“I stressed my strong solidarity with the Nigerian people and government and the affected families and victims. I expressed my solidarity again with the Nigerian people, so that the UN will work together to address and counter extremism and terrorism.
“This week will witness the 500th day since the kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls. I want to reiterate my support for the Chibok girls and so many other innocent abducted girls and boys whose names and fate remain unknown.
“It is intolerable that their lives and schooling have been disrupted in this way. The whole world has been moved by their fate. I once again call in the strongest possible terms on those responsible to unconditionally release these girls and many other abducted children.
“Terrorism knows no boundaries and no bounds. Today, I laid a wreath in memory of the Nigerian and other victims. Now, more than ever, collaboration is indispensable in addressing these crimes. The president has made regional engagement efforts and I am hopeful for the rapid operationalisation of the Multinational Joint Task Force.”
He recalled that Buhari, in his inaugural speech, recognised that human rights were important part of the counter-insurgency response and that operations should be conducted with the full respect for human rights, humanitarian and refugee law.
He said: “At the same time, we know that the military approach will not be sufficient.”
Ki-moon added that he also discussed efforts to address the root causes of insurgency and urged Buhari to tackle socio-economic grievances in the North-east, adding: “In particular, the need to expand educational and employment opportunities for young people.”
According to him, the recent agreement by UN member states on the Sustainable Development agenda and/on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda will provide further financing vehicles to help Nigeria achieve its agenda for change.
He acknowledged that the humanitarian situation in the North-east was particularly worrying, disclosing: “We are working with partners on the ground to scale up humanitarian operations.”
He also congratulated Buhari on the efforts to protect and uphold the rights of displaced persons.
In his brief remarks, Buhari thanked the secretary-general for inviting him to the UN General Assembly meeting holding on September 27th and 28th where security and economic issues would be discussed.
“We have discussed with him the difficult time Nigeria finds itself, the destruction of infrastructure especially in the North-east, the rehabilitation of the infrastructure, and the over 1.5 million internally displaced persons that have to be morally, physically and materially rehabilitated and the efforts we think the secretary-general can convey to the UN so that Nigeria can be helped in the identified problems we have,” Buhari said.
Earlier in the day, the UN secretary-general laid a wreath to commemorate the fourth anniversary of a deadly attack on the UN office by Boko Haram in Abuja.
The secretary-general hugged several relatives of the victims of the bombing during a ceremony at the United Nations House and praised “the extraordinary fortitude and determination” of the survivors.
“Our fallen colleagues and partners will be remembered this morning with a moment of silence in many places.
“But nowhere are the memories of these colleagues more immediate, more vivid and more compelling than here in Abuja. We will remember them forever as truly the best of humanity,” he said.
At least 21 people died when a bomb-laden car exploded at the UN House, the headquarters for around 400 employees, on August 26, 2011.
The death toll rose to 24 in the months that followed, according to the United Nations, with 12 non-UN staff among the victims.
The radical Islamist sect Boko Haram blamed for the deaths of at least 15,000 people during a six-year insurgency, mainly in Nigeria’s North-east, claimed responsibility for the attack.
In another development, the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Post-2015 Development Planning, Ms Amina Mohammed, yesterday said the visit of the UN scribe to Nigeria was indicative of the international community’s approval of Buhari.
Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Nigeria’s image in the international arena has improved greatly, following a violence-free election that ushered in Buhari.
Mohammed is on the entourage of the secretary-general, who arrived in Nigeria on Sunday on a two-day official visit.
“The visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon shows international support for President Muhammadu Buhari. Nigerians should hope for much more support and clarity around key issues that will bring the secretary-general and the president together.”
The UN official, who said she did not want to pre-empt the discussions of the UN scribe, declined specific comments on the visit. She however said it portends positive developments for the country.
Mohammed had served as the Senior Special Assistant to former President Jonathan on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
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