Nigeria met with UN, neighbours at AU summit over insurgency —Wali
Nigeria met with UN, neighbours at AU summit over insurgency —Wali
Nigerian Tribune, 13 Feb 2015
URL: http://www.tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/29383-nigeria-met-with-un-neighbours-at-au-summit-over-insurgency-wali
Nigeria held meetings with the United Nations (UN), Chad, Cameroon, Egypt and Niger at the just-concluded AU summit in Addis Ababa on how to effectively combat Boko Haram insurgency, an official said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, made the fact known in a statement in Abuja, on Thursday, saying discussions at the meetings focused on modalities to give effect to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Wali said MNJTF was already in place to combat the Boko Haram insurgency, which had become a security threat to the sub-region.
“It was agreed that experts from the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) countries, comprising Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, Niger and the Republic of Benin would work out the modus operandi for operation of the Force,” he said.
The minister also met with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, at the request of the UN scribe, who requested Wali to convey the worries of the international community about the activities of Boko Haram to President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The UN secretary-General explained that he was personally pained by the plight of the Chibok girls, who were yet to be released, adding that the agonies of their parents were unimaginable,” the statement said.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to conduct the forthcoming elections in a free, fair and transparent manner, devoid of violence and allowing the will of the people to prevail.
On climate change, Ban Ki-Moon noted that South Africa was the largest emitter of green-house gas in Africa and that Nigeria had become a major emitter and, therefore, needed to pay greater attention to the matter.
In a remark, Wali said the international community should not show any worries over the general election.
He said Nigeria was determined to ensure that the polls were conducted in a peaceful, free and fair atmosphere than was the case in 2011.
He said the 2011 polls, conducted by the present administration was hailed by election observers and the international community.
The minister informed Ban Ki-Moon that the Boko Haram crisis was now being fought within the LCBC platform and assured him that appropriate measures were being taken to address the issue of climate change.
Wali added that Nigeria was suffering from the effects of green gas emissions through seasonal flooding, desertification and drought.
At the bilateral meeting with the Egyptian Foreign M inister, Sameh Shoukry, both ministers stressed the need for Nigeria and Egypt to foster stronger relations.
The two envoys also stressed the need to forge strategic partnership, not only in economic matters, but in security and political matters.
Wali recalled that relations between Nigeria and Egypt had come a long way, dating back to the 1960s and 1970s and stressed the need for both countries to hold regular joint consultative meetings.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, made the fact known in a statement in Abuja, on Thursday, saying discussions at the meetings focused on modalities to give effect to the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
Wali said MNJTF was already in place to combat the Boko Haram insurgency, which had become a security threat to the sub-region.
“It was agreed that experts from the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) countries, comprising Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, Niger and the Republic of Benin would work out the modus operandi for operation of the Force,” he said.
The minister also met with the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, at the request of the UN scribe, who requested Wali to convey the worries of the international community about the activities of Boko Haram to President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The UN secretary-General explained that he was personally pained by the plight of the Chibok girls, who were yet to be released, adding that the agonies of their parents were unimaginable,” the statement said.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to conduct the forthcoming elections in a free, fair and transparent manner, devoid of violence and allowing the will of the people to prevail.
On climate change, Ban Ki-Moon noted that South Africa was the largest emitter of green-house gas in Africa and that Nigeria had become a major emitter and, therefore, needed to pay greater attention to the matter.
In a remark, Wali said the international community should not show any worries over the general election.
He said Nigeria was determined to ensure that the polls were conducted in a peaceful, free and fair atmosphere than was the case in 2011.
He said the 2011 polls, conducted by the present administration was hailed by election observers and the international community.
The minister informed Ban Ki-Moon that the Boko Haram crisis was now being fought within the LCBC platform and assured him that appropriate measures were being taken to address the issue of climate change.
Wali added that Nigeria was suffering from the effects of green gas emissions through seasonal flooding, desertification and drought.
At the bilateral meeting with the Egyptian Foreign M inister, Sameh Shoukry, both ministers stressed the need for Nigeria and Egypt to foster stronger relations.
The two envoys also stressed the need to forge strategic partnership, not only in economic matters, but in security and political matters.
Wali recalled that relations between Nigeria and Egypt had come a long way, dating back to the 1960s and 1970s and stressed the need for both countries to hold regular joint consultative meetings.