What Buhari told UN General Assembly about Boko Haram, IDPs

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday told the international community that his administration was working hard to meet the humanitarian needs of the over two million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria.

He also said that advances being made against Boko Haram insurgents go beyond degradation through just force of arms, and that “The de-radicalization process is also going on”.

The President disclosed that already programmes like, the Presidential Intervention Committee on Rehabilitation of the North-East, the Victims Support Fund, the Safe Schools Initiative and the proposed North-East Development Commission currently undergoing legislative process, are some measures being implemented by Nigerian government to address the IDPs issues.

President Buhari stated this at the High-Level Summit on “Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants” on the margins of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71) in New York, United States.

The President address was contained in a press statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

He also told the world leaders that any discourse on refugees and migrants in the case of Nigeria will not be complete without making reference to IDPs, who are victims of “Boko Haram’s terrible atrocities,” which also rendered 600,000 persons homeless in Nigeria’s neighbouring countries.

President Buhari decried all new forms of racism, xenophobia and hate ideology targeted at “undermining the considerable benefits that migration can deliver to global efficiency.”

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Also speaking at a bilateral meeting with President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Monday in New York, on the side-lines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Buhari said that advances being made against Boko Haram insurgents go beyond degradation through just force of arms.

He said, “The de-radicalization process is also going on, and we are achieving some measure of success. Even suicide bombing is becoming rare, as the local people are themselves rejecting indoctrination by the insurgents.”

He therefore assured existing and potential investors in Nigeria of adequate protection of their lives, investments and property, as the security situation in Nigeria is now very much better and conducive.

President Buhari told South African President that Nigeria was working hard to diversify the economy and expressed his administration willingness to collaborate with South African businessmen especially in the areas of mining and agriculture, for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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