Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday thanked United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for visiting the country, saying that he is grateful the West African nation hasn’t been forgotten amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, reported CNN Africa.
President Buhari received Guterres, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to Femi Adesina, the president’s spokesperson, President Buhari said Nigeria and the African continent were already concerned that the attention on Russia and Ukraine would overpower other issues, but the UN’s chief visit to African countries clearly showed that “the world has not forgotten us”.
The Nigerian president said that terrorism remains a threat to global peace, security, and progress, with many already killed, while millions have been displaced by the insurgents over many years.
UN Chief Guterres called for more resources to help Nigeria meet the humanitarian needs of people affected by conflict.
Guterres was concluding his two-day mission to Nigeria. He said he had traveled to Nigeria to express his solidarity with victims of terrorism, according to a statement from his office.
In 2020, Nigeria reported over 2.7 million internally displaced persons.
Guterres said the UN has called for an additional $351million as part of the $1.1billion humanitarian response plan for Nigeria.
Buhari also reiterated his government’s commitment to fighting terrorism and called for international assistance to end extremism.
“There can be no better assurance that the world is with us as we confront extremist terrorist organizations, hunger, and the enormous problems of millions and millions of displaced people during this important visit,” the Nigerian president said.
Nigeria has been battling a decades-long battle against Islamist groups that have left thousands dead and millions displaced in the country’s northern region. The militants continue to carry out brutal attacks across swaths of the region.
On Monday, the UN chief visited a rehabilitation center and an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri.
