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General News of Wednesday, 16 June 2021

Source: www.mynigeria.com

West African, Sahel states need to unite against insecurity - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari

President Buhari has said that the region especially the Sahel region can only be successful in fighting the scourge of insecurity when countries pool their resources together to attack a common enemy.

The President made this known to the press as he hosted the new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, a Chadian in the State House in Abuja on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said President Buhari also tasked the UN envoy to bring the countries together.

“You are our neighbor. You have vast experience on matters affecting the Sahel, having served for five years in Mali. I hope you will get the countries to work together to confront the issues affecting them,” he said.

Describing the region’s challenges as “enormous,” President Buhari noted that Boko Haram has placed heavy burdens in areas of lives and resources in Nigeria and some neighbouring countries, while Mali also has a large part of the country occupied by militants.

“I hope under the auspices of UNOWAS, you will help get the problems sorted out. Most of them have to do with the instability in Libya, and it affects all of us,” he said.

President Buhari pledged Nigeria’s assistance to the Special Representative to enable him to succeed in his assignment.

Annadif said he was visiting after his appointment because he recognized the crucial role of Nigeria in West Africa.