President Muhammadu Buhari has urged members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), development partners and international community, to assist security personnel, victims and countries affected by Boko Haram insurgency.
A statement by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Mission to United Nations (UN), Mr Akinremi Bolaji, quoted the President as making the call in his speech at the 17th summit of NAM at the Island of Margarita, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
NAM is a group of states which are not formally aligned with, or against any major power bloc.
Buhari stressed the need to provide assistance to member-countries that had borne the brunt of Boko Haram terrorism and relief to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees.
He explained that the twin-scourge of terrorism and violent extremism continued to wreak havoc in Nigeria and its neighbours around the Lake Chad Basin.
According to him, thousands of nationals have been killed and maimed in addition to the millions displaced from their homes.
He, however, stated that the capacity of Boko Haram had been severely degraded with huge sacrifices on the part of the Nigerian Armed Forces and those of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Noting that the situation in some other parts of the world such as Libya, Iraq and Syria, continued to be a major concern, Buhari urged support for the peace process in those countries.
He said: “It is essential that the Non-Aligned Movement finds a role for itself in addressing these challenges so as to retain its relevance in the world of today and in the future.
“In addressing the challenge of resource mobilisation and flows for sustainable development of our countries, our collective solidarity is required now more than ever before, to uphold the Bandung Principles.
“I need not stress that cooperation among nations is an essential condition for global peace, security and a just world and economic order anchored on democratic values.’’
Buhari said there was the need to associate fully with the statement by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Prayut Chan-o-cha on behalf of Group 77 (G77) and China.
Chan-o-cha, spoke of the great opportunity for NAM to place the priority and concerns of the developing countries on the global agenda.
According to Buhari, the international community was facing severe economic crisis characterised by the collapse of commodity prices, worsening youth unemployment and exchange rate instability, among others.
His words: “We need to exchange experiences in tackling these challenges. We must create jobs for our teeming population and explore creative ways of adding value to our terms of trade among ourselves and the rest of the world.
“We must continue to fashion out concrete steps to enhance good governance in our countries, including tackling head on, the challenge of corruption and efficient allocation of scarce resources.”
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Khadija Abba-Ibrahim, who was at the meeting, restated Nigeria’s commitment to the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
According to her, Nigeria recognises the primary responsibility of states to protect civilians within their national jurisdiction.
The minister said: “This conviction underlines our government’s resolve to take all measures necessary to protect civilians in the battle against the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
“Surely, terrorism must be roundly condemned and rejected by all peace-loving nations and should never be justified or defended under any guise.
“Similarly, no action should also be taken to undermine the morale and professional efficiency of the gallant officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces and those of their partners in the sub-region as they prosecute this campaign.”
