Boko Haram: Buhari Assures On Continued Collaboration With Northern Neighbours
BEVERLY HILLS, April 20, (THEWILL) – Nigerians have been assured that the in-coming administration of President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), will surely continue with the ongoing collaboration with the country's northern neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroon in the fight against Boko Haram.
The assurance was given on Sunday by Gen. Buhari while playing host to a delegation of the government and people of Borno State, which paid a congratulatory visit to him in Daura, Katsina State.
A statement issued on Monday by the Special Adviser to Borno State Governor on Media, Mallam Isa Gusau, said the delegation was made up of the state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima; the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai Elkanemi and some elders from the state.
According to the statement, Buhari told his guests that he was very much aware of the problems of the Northeast and will not waste time in taking them up one after the other.
The statement also said Buhari promised that his administration will enhance collaboration with neighbouring Governments of Chad, Niger and Cameroon to curtail the trans-border movement of Boko Haram insurgents, cut supply of arms, cut recruitment and training of fresh recruits.
Buhari, who also assured that the stability of the Northeast is a must project for his administration, insisted that nothing can be achieved unless peace was restored to the region.
While promising to focus on re-activating the Lake Chad in addition to deploying enormous resources to resume vigorous search for oil along the Chad Basin in parts of Borno State, Buhari also assured the delegation that the receding Lake Chad issue will be addressed through the transfer of water from the Central African Republic to the lake to boost commercial activities for fishing and irrigation farming.
The statement said the President-elect recalled that he once read a document raising fears about receding of the Lake Chad which he handed over to then President Olusegun Obasanjo but now his administration, upon assumption of office, will handle the matter, even as he insisted that . the lake has the potentials to create millions of jobs through irrigation and many other commercial activities.
While acknowledging delays in oil exploration activities in the Chad Basin, Buhari said he was very much aware of exploration activities in the area since 1978 as Minister of Petroleum.
He disclosed that he had visited a site in Borno State when he was Head of State to assess exploration activities, maintaining that he was very conversant with the issue and would take it up when he assumes duty as President.
Buhari also disclosed that he had suggested the need to take the search for oil in the North seriously not only to increase the export potentials on Nigeria but also to balance cross regional perceptions and manage agitations so as to enhance the stability of the country.
He however promised to pay special attention to the economic potentials of the Northeast in order to make it attractive for investments.
In his response to the assurances , leader of the delegation, Governor Shettima who led the delegation, said the people of Borno feel so much attached to General Buhari given his background as someone that served as Military Governor in the State.
He said the Borno people looked up to Buhari with so much hope to provide solutions to their problems because he was very much familiar with the problems.
On his part, the Shehu of Borno appealed Buhari to ensure that the Federal Government rehabilitate the youths volunteers also known as Civilian JTF helping to fight insurgency in the state.
The monarch also mae a case for Buhari's intervention on resumption of commercial airlines to Maiduguri International Airport, which has been suspended for over a year now due to the Boko Haram insurgency.