Nigeria making meaningful progress in tackling terrorism, Buhari tells diplomats

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria is making “meaningful progress” in the fight against terrorism.

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesperson, Buhari said this on Tuesday while receiving letters of credence from James Kingston Christoff, Canadian high commissioner to Nigeria, and Juan Alfred Miranda Oritz, ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria.

The president said Nigeria has made progress in fighting insecurity through collaborative efforts with the international community.

“The devastating effect of global insecurity, climate change and the post COVID-19 era has devastated global economies. Nations continue to struggle to recover from these multiple global challenges,” he said.

“The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has undermined the progress countries have achieved in tackling food security in the last decade, while the political instability in Libya continues to fuel terrorism in the Sahel, as well as scuttle democratic sustenance in both West and Central African regions.

“Nigeria is not left out of the equation, as we are fighting to rid our country of banditry, kidnapping, herder/farmer crisis and insurgency.

“We are, however, making meaningful progress with the support of friendly countries like yours to sustain these fights until we overcome these challenges.”

According to Adesina, the president also said Nigeria had been working with member-states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other regional blocs, to deal with terrorism, trans-border crimes, maritime crimes such as piracy and illegal fishing, illicit drug and human trafficking, banditry, as well as unconstitutional changes of government.

“I believe that matters of security have become the business of all nations as these challenges go beyond the abilities of any single country to contain effectively,” Buhari said.

“The world must, therefore, work closely together and Nigeria counts on your support in cementing the relations between our countries at both bilateral and multilateral levels to surmount these global threats to civilisation.’’