President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday during a joint press conference with visiting President Francois Hollande of France at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja
agreed to the fact that the issue of security in Nigeria and in the world is becoming disturbing.
Hollande who is in the country for the second Regional Security Summit held in Abuja, having hosted the first edition in Paris.
Bahari said:
“Fundamentally, the issue of security has been more harrowing. The international terrorism now with the help of technology and millions of volunteers respect no borders.
It is a lot of concern for people with conscience to learn that in Nigeria we have more than two million Internally Displaced Persons most of them women and children.”
The President lamented that technology has also been contributing to deteriorating security situation across the globe. He accredited the success so far recorded by his administration in the anti-terrorism fight to the help of G7 nations, including France, stating that their supports came in form of training Nigerian military personnel and the provision of hardware among others.
While saying that Nigeria has been the main battle ground, Buhari said his administration was not aware of Boko Haram’s international colouration until it declared loyalty for ISIS.
Hollande on his part admitted that terrorism is feeding on the weaknesses of the global financial system.
He said all hands must therefore be on deck to fight corruption, dwindling economy as well as tax havens.
These, he said, has impact on the terrorist groups and their ability to finance arms trafficking as well as terror attacks.
“Are we doing enough? We have achieved major progress already but this is not the end.
So we shall continue to fight against all systems that enable all forms of trafficking - human trafficking happening in the Mediterranean, drug trafficking that has been linked with the terror activities and arms trafficking as well.
This afternoon, we will be discussing this at the summit and we will further discuss it at the G7 and the G20 about fighting tax havens, countries not abiding by the rules and I will be leading the discussion on this in particular at G7 next month,” he said.
However the French President expressed satisfaction on the achievements in the fight against Boko Haram since the first regional summit which his country hosted.
UK Approves N14bn to Assist Nigeria In War Against Insurgency
The UK says it has approved 40 million pounds (about N14 billion) to assist Nigeria in the fight against insurgency.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, disclosed this on Saturday when he arrived Abuja for the one day Regional Security Summit.
A statement issued by the British High Commission, quoted Hammond as stressing the UK’s continued support to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.
“The UK continues to support Nigeria in tackling Boko Haram with nearly £40m of counter-terrorist and counter-extremism support over the next four years.
The support includes the training of almost 1,000 Nigerian military personnel for deployment to the North East of Nigeria on counter-insurgency operations,” Hammond said.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the efforts his administration had made in degrading the Boko Haram insurgency.
“President Buhari has shown strong leadership in the fight against Boko Haram.
Boko Haram is a brutal organisation that has raped, murdered and kidnapped innocent civilians and forced over two million people to flee their homes.
Their allegiance to, and potential coordination with Daesh is a reminder of the threat they present to the region and to British interests,” he said.
According to him, Britain and Nigeria, with support from the U.S., France, and its neighbours, are making progress in degrading Boko Haram.
The Second Regional Security Summit brings together leaders from across the world to address the international community’s intent to support Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram.
The First Regional Security Summit was held in France.
