Obama hails Buhari’s peace efforts in N’Delta, B’Haram defeat

Barack Obama, the American President, has offered a hand of fellowship to Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari “in the final and comprehensive defeat of Boko Haram and efforts to resolve the Niger Delta crisis”.

This is as President Buhari on Tuesday assured Obama that Nigeria is making steady progress towards resolving the problem in the Niger Delta region which has led to economic sabotage on a grand scale.

“We are making definite progress on how many factions of the militant groups exist, their leadership and operational basis, and we have equally sought the cooperation of the oil majors. In a short while, I believe the issues would be resolved,” President Buhari stated during a bilateral meeting on the side-lines of the 71st edition of the UN General Assembly, holding in New York.

He thanked Obama for the help United States (US) rendered in the area of security through provision of armaments, training for Nigerian troops, and sharing of intelligence, which he said has led to the degradation of Boko Haram in the North East.

President Buhari added that Nigeria was open to support in combating the humanitarian crisis currently ravaging the North-East and wished President Obama a happy retirement, as he winds down gradually on his tenure in office.

Read also: For the records: Nigerian Senate advises executive on how to end economic recession

Obama who described Nigerian President as a man of “integrity and honesty,” added, “We have confidence in your leadership. There are some difficulties you face, but this administration is willing to assist in the short time we have left. You have made real progress in defeating the brutal organization called Boko Haram, and that was achieved because of your leadership.”

He then offered a hand of fellowship to Nigeria “in the final and comprehensive defeat of Boko Haram, resolution of the Niger Delta crisis, which would help ramp up oil production and increase revenue, resolving the humanitarian crisis in the North-East, recovering stolen money, and revamping the economy.”

He described Nigeria as a big and important country in sub-Saharan Africa and said the US looked forward to a framework for sustained partnership between the two nations.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

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