Northeast Crisis: Buhari Admits Huge Challenges
- Says more time needed
- Civil War experience ‘ll help
BY EDMOND OFOK. ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Nigeria will not be overwhelmed by current challenges in the Northeast despite setbacks recorded in recent times.
He said though it may take a bit longer than initially expected, the country is committed to resolving existing and emerging issues associated with region’s crisis in order to move ahead.
Notwithstanding, the President is upbeat that the Civil war experience will assist Nigeria, especially the nation’s military, to come out tops at the end of the crisis.
Speaking when he hosted the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, in State House, Abuja on Friday, President Buhari said, “If we were capable to fight a 30-month civil war and reorganised our country, I wonder why people are thinking that Nigeria cannot do it.
“I assure you of Nigeria’s commitment to enhance and deepen cooperation with the EU in all areas. Our priorities in the next level is to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), are rehabilitated so that livelihood should be established and the children should not lose the opportunity to go back to school, which is very important for the future of that area and Nigeria generally.”
The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said; “We have the experience of the civil war. I could recall the role of the military, the army, each commander had in his pocket how to behave himself and how to allow international bodies like yourself to go round and see for themselves that people are treated in the most humane way.
“We have this experience and I assure you that we also have this confidence in your organisation. That is why I feel that Nigeria is capable of handling this crisis, it may take long but we are capable of handling it.”
Also appreciating the recent meeting in Germany that deliberated on happenings in Libya. President Buhari said; “The important thing really is weapons reaching the Sahel; the instability it is causing. Look at the casualties in Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali; Libya has a direct impact on the stability of the Sahel.
“As for Boko Haram, we try to disabuse the mind of the people and I think our people now understand the basic dishonesty in it. With my experience personally in the civil war, I am sure we will get over it.”
He maintainined that the new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development will do a splendid job of managing various humanitarian issues evolving from the Northeast region, aadding; “I assure you that we are aware of these problems and we will continue to do our best. The newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is coordinating NEMA and others, to make sure that whatever resources we get are well utilised.
“The ministry will be accountable to the government instead of having too many bodies doing the same thing. We are also reaching out to foreign countries explaining to them our position, and we are confident we will get over it.”
In his remarks, the EU Commissioner, Janez Lenarcic, said given Nigeria’s big role in economic, social and other spheres within Africa and globally, there is an urgent need to develop a plan between the EU and Nigeria concerning issues in the Northeast.
He said having visited Borno State and appreciated government’s efforts to end the conflict there, “We would like to support your efforts. We believe all relevant actors; military, civilian as well as humanitarian should come together. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is suggesting such high level dialogue.”
According to him; “In situations such as what we have in the northeast, international law and international humanitarian law should apply. We believe in your efforts to end the conflict; military effort alone probably will not be sufficient without identifying and addressing the socio-economic factors causing it.”
