Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, commended the collective efforts of the international community toward tackling security challenges across the globe and within Nigeria, urging more collaboration to check terrorism, banditry and insurgency.
Buhari, while receiving letters of Credence of the Canadian Excessive Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. James Christoff and Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, Juan Oritz, said the successes in taming insecurity had been recorded through collaboration across borders and more could be achieved.
He said the devastating effect of global insecurity, climate change and the post-COVID-19 era has devastated global economies, adding nations continue to struggle to recover from these multiple global challenges.
According to him, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has undermined the progress countries have achieved in tackling food security in the last decade. Whereas, the political instability in Libya continues to gasoline terrorism within the Sahel, in addition to scuttle democratic sustenance in each West and Central African areas.
“Nigeria is not left out of the equation, as we are fighting to rid our country of banditry, kidnapping, herder-farmer crisis, and insurgency. We are, however, making meaningful progress with the support of friendly countries to sustain these fights until we overcome these challenges,” Buhari said.
Likewise, he said, the political instability in Libya continues to fuel terrorism in the Sahel, as well as scuttle democratic sustenance in both West and Central African regions.
At the regional level, Buhari said Nigeria had been working with other member states of the Economic Community of West African States and other regional blocs, to deal with the problems of terrorism, trans-border crimes, maritime crimes, such as piracy, illegal fishing, human trafficking, banditry, as well as unconstitutional changes of government.
“I believe that matters of security have become the business of all nations as these challenges go beyond the abilities of any single country to effectively contain.
“The world must, therefore, work closely together and Nigeria counts on your support in cementing the relations between our countries at both bilateral and multilateral levels to surmount these global threats to civilization.
“I’m assured that, in finishing up your diplomatic tasks in the middle of your tour of duties, you’ll spare time to respect the distinctiveness and energy in our nation’s cultural diversities, by way of each human and pure sources, in addition to the natural world throughout the nation,’’ he added.
In his remarks, on behalf of the ambassadors, the Canadian Excessive Commissioner thanked the president for the ceremony of accepting the Letters of Credence.
“At the moment marks the formal starting of our engagement with the federal government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are going to work intently with ministers and officers to begin a progressive relationship,’’ Mr Christoff mentioned.
