ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – President Muhammadu Buhari and the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, on Monday met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja with the UN scribe calling for the unconditional release of the over 200 girls abducted in their school in Chibok, Borno State in April last year and other abductees of the Boko Haram sect.
This is as President Buhari disclosed that over 1.5 million Nigerians have been displaced who need to be morally, physically and materially rehabilitated, calling on the UN scribe to convey to member-states at the UN that Nigeria was in need of help in this and other identified areas it is facing challenges.
While describing the abduction of the girls from their dormitory in a government secondary school on April 14, last year, as intolerable, Ki-Moon however, expressed solidarity with the affected families and the Nigerian people.
He made the calling while addressing State House correspondents shortly after a closed door meeting with Buhari.
Ki-Moon expressed sadness that this week the girls would be marking 500 days in captivity and that terrorism knows no boundaries noting that this was the time for more collaboration in the terrorism fight.
He made the calling while addressing State House correspondents shortly after a closed door meeting with Buhari.
Ki-Moon expressed sadness that this week the girls would be marking 500 days in captivity and that terrorism knows no boundaries noting that this was the time for more collaboration in the terrorism fight.
The UN scribe said, “I express my solidarity again with the Nigerian people, that United Nations will work together to address the extremism and terrorism.
“This week marks the 500 days of the kidnap of the Chibok girls. 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 with the strongest terms on those responsible to unconditionally release these girls and many other abducted children.
“Terrorism knows no boundary and no bounds. Today, I laid the wreath in memory of Nigerians and other victims.”
“This week marks the 500 days of the kidnap of the Chibok girls. 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 with the strongest terms on those responsible to unconditionally release these girls and many other abducted children.
“Terrorism knows no boundary and no bounds. Today, I laid the wreath in memory of Nigerians and other victims.”
He congratulated Buhari on his stand on corruption and fight against terrorism, describing Nigeria as a source of support to Africa. He, however, noted that military operations alone would not be sufficient.
Ki-Moon called for more effort to be centred on tackling the root causes of terrorism and recommended expansion of educational and employment opportunities for young people.
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The UN secretary-general commended the contribution of Nigeria to UN peace operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone and the crucial role it is currently playing in the UN Security Council.
He promised UN support for the President’s agenda of fighting terrorism and corruption, saying “when you change Nigeria, you have also changed Africa.”
The UN scribe noted the regional engagement efforts being made by Buhari to tackle insurgency and expressed the hope that the rapid operational direction of the Multinational Joint Task Force would go a long way in tackling the insurgency.
He recalled that Buhari had in his inaugural speech recognised that human rights are important parts of the counter-insurgency response, adding that operations should be conducted with the full respect for rights, humanitarian and refugee law.
The UN scribe noted the regional engagement efforts being made by Buhari to tackle insurgency and expressed the hope that the rapid operational direction of the Multinational Joint Task Force would go a long way in tackling the insurgency.
He recalled that Buhari had in his inaugural speech recognised that human rights are important parts of the counter-insurgency response, adding that operations should be conducted with the full respect for rights, humanitarian and refugee law.
He said there was an agreement by UN member states on the Sustainable Development Agenda and on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda that would provide further financing to help Nigeria on its agenda for change.
“The humanitarian situation in the North is particularly worrisome, we are working with partners on ground to scale up humanitarian operations.
“My message is simple, United Nations supports your efforts to advance hope, peace, sustainable development and human rights in a comprehensive way.
“I am convinced that when you change Nigeria, you have changed Africa. Nigeria has been a source of stability in West Africa and the wider continent.
“You have been a key contributor to UN peace keeping operations including its successful mission 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.”
The UN scribe said he was in Nigeria for the second time to recognise some of great achievements, political stability and also unity and peace being witnessed under Buhari.
He congratulated Buhari on his victory in the last elections and commended Nigerians on the conduct of peaceful and credible elections.
He expressed the hope that such development and the message of hope would be emulated around the world.
“I want to commend the people of Nigeria on the peaceful and fair elections. I salute the statesmanship of both President Buhari and former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“For the first time in Nigeria, a sitting President peacefully ceding power to an opposition candidate in a democratic election.
“It has restored a global message of respect for democracy and the rule of law,” he declared.
Buhari on his part said they discussed the difficult time Nigeria had found itself during the meeting.
He said the step was taken so that the UN could assist the country.
He thanked Ban Ki-Moon for extending invitation to him to attend the UN General Assembly holding in New York on September 27and 28.
“The humanitarian situation in the North is particularly worrisome, we are working with partners on ground to scale up humanitarian operations.
“My message is simple, United Nations supports your efforts to advance hope, peace, sustainable development and human rights in a comprehensive way.
“I am convinced that when you change Nigeria, you have changed Africa. Nigeria has been a source of stability in West Africa and the wider continent.
“You have been a key contributor to UN peace keeping operations including its successful mission 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.”
The UN scribe said he was in Nigeria for the second time to recognise some of great achievements, political stability and also unity and peace being witnessed under Buhari.
He congratulated Buhari on his victory in the last elections and commended Nigerians on the conduct of peaceful and credible elections.
He expressed the hope that such development and the message of hope would be emulated around the world.
“I want to commend the people of Nigeria on the peaceful and fair elections. I salute the statesmanship of both President Buhari and former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“For the first time in Nigeria, a sitting President peacefully ceding power to an opposition candidate in a democratic election.
“It has restored a global message of respect for democracy and the rule of law,” he declared.
Buhari on his part said they discussed the difficult time Nigeria had found itself during the meeting.
He said the step was taken so that the UN could assist the country.
He thanked Ban Ki-Moon for extending invitation to him to attend the UN General Assembly holding in New York on September 27and 28.
The President said: “We had discussed with him, the difficult times Nigeria has found itself, the destruction of infrastructure, especially in the North East, the rehabilitation of the infrastructure and over 1.5 million internally displaced persons which have to be morally, physically and materially rehabilitated, and the efforts we think the UN scribe can convey to the UN so that Nigeria can be helped in the identified problems we have.
“I thank the Secretary-General for inviting me between 27-28 September, when we are to be at the UN General Assembly meeting to discuss issues globally on security and economy.”
“I thank the Secretary-General for inviting me between 27-28 September, when we are to be at the UN General Assembly meeting to discuss issues globally on security and economy.”