Nigeria’s Armed Forces in collaboration with the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF), have driven the Boko Haram terrorist group from the nation’s territory into “fall-back positions,” President Muhammadu Buhari has declared.
President Buhari made the declaration on Monday during a meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.
According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari said Nigeria had made very significant progress towards ending the Boko Haram insurgency since his assumption of office on May 29, 2015.
“They (Boko Haram) are currently not holding any territory today as we speak,” Buhari told Mr. Ki Moon.
President Buhari also told the United Nations Secretary-General that Nigeria will persistently pursue global action to reverse the drying up of Lake Chad and save the lives of those who depend on it for survival. “With all due respect to our neighbours, Nigeria has been worst hit by the drying up of the Lake Chad and we are hoping that the global community will support the process of halting the drying up of the lake,” he said.
Ban Ki Moon who commended President Buhari for his courage in fighting terrorism and corruption, noted that Nigeria has made amazing progress against terrorism since President Buhari assumed office, while the war against corruption has boosted global confidence in the Nigerian economy.
He urged President Buhari to integrate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into Nigeria’s economic and environmental vision.
By Olisemeka Obeche