Nigeria will do more to stabilize West Africa-Buhari
By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed Nigeria’s commitment to stabilising the West-African sub-region within available resources.
The President gave this assurance on Thursday during an audience with Mohammad Ibn Chambas, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel on Thursday at the State House, Abuja.
Buhari said that he was pleased that the United Nations appreciates his administration’s focus in fighting corruption, poverty and ensuring regional stability.
He also restated his belief that peaceful relations with Nigeria’s neighbours remain imperative in confronting terrorism and insurgency.
Chambas, who represented the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres at the Democracy Day celebration, said the UN boss extended his personal admiration for President Buhari’s “integrity and quality as a statesman especially, in fighting corruption and driving public accountability.”
He said the UN appreciates the Buhari’s commitment to tackling poverty, terrorism, insurgency and recharging the Lake Chad.
While pledging the UN continued technical support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) towards the next general elections, Chambas also expressed the UN’s delight that Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, was elected the President of the 74th UN General Assembly.
He described Prof. Muhammad-Bande as “highly regarded by his peers in New York,” adding that “we will ensure his tenure is a success. We have no doubt that he will be a pride to Nigeria and Africa.”
In a related development, President Buhari Thursday received in audience the first Vice-President of the Republic of South Sudan, Taban Deng Gai, who came to seek Nigeria’s continued support towards lasting peace in his country.
