EU donates $50million to fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria

The European Union on Thursday pledged $50million as support for the fight against Boko Haram in Nigeria and the African Union, as well as continuous support for the Internally Displaced Persons in the country.

German’s President Joachim Gauck, made the pledge at a joint press conference, when he visited the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, while on a state visit to the country.

Gauck who stated that the EU was supporting an already initiated approach by the Buhari administration to fight the Boko Haram scourge in collaboration with the neighbouring countries and the African Union added that what Germany wanted to see was a peaceful change, which was being propagated by the President, and that makes it easier to
cooperate with Nigeria.

“We as Europe will support that initiative with $50 million. We commend your good governance. Good governance is not possible without peace, Germany will support Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram and we would continue to provide support for the displaced people on a humanitarian basis,” Gauck said.

He said his visit to Nigeria is to set as an eye opener for other countries adding that he had come to field prospects in Nigeria, with the possibility of getting the attention of the people in Germany to add to the creation of sustainable jobs for the people, both in Nigeria and back home.

Responding to questions on the repatriation of funds stashed in European Banks, Gauck advised Nigeria to adopt a model used by Germany when they were in a similar position. He said they had used illegal means to get the information needed to track the funds. The German Ceremonial President commended the freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Nigeria adding that “Nigeria is a country full of determination to make a change and Mr President you are determined to make the change”.

In response, President Buhari thanked the German President and government for their support to Nigeria especially as chair of the G7. According to him, the invitation extended to him on his assumption of office and handling the issue of security in Nigeria during the meeting showed a genuine concern by the G7.

He reiterated that as part of the mileage of the success recorded in the fight against Boko Haram, none of the 14 local governments that was held by the sect is still under their control.

“It is a pity Boko haram welcomed you by explosions in Maiduguri that took so many lives, but I have attempted to explain in so many fora that Boko haram is not what it used to be. While they were firmly holding 14 out of 774 local governments when we came in, they are not holding any local government now. What they have resorted to is using improvised explosive devices to cause maximum casualties on soft targets as they did yesterday,” he said adding that they cannot no longer attack military and police formations.

He said the government has redoubled efforts to ensure that the people in internally displaced camps have been rehabilitated especially the children. “More than 60% of the 2million people in IDPs are women and children and more than 60% of them are children and more than 60% of the children are orphaned. Some of them don’t know where they are from, they don’t know their parents, this is a pathetic situation the leadership of this government is facing because the least we should is to quickly resettle those children, if possible, try and identify their neighborhoods, refer the schools health centres and maybe part of the village so that they can get out of the trauma that they are in” he added . Buhari lamented that monies allocated for the purchase of military hardware were shared and pocketed by officials.

He said as part of economic planning for the country, the government is already working at diversifying Nigeria’s mono-economy, through agriculture and the exploration of the solid mineral sectors.

He thanked the German government for the help extended to ensure that the 2015 election was a success as well as their humanitarian contributions to Nigeria.

Buhari used the opportunity to commend German companies operating in Nigeria, for the quality of jobs delivered, even though it comes with a higher price. He cited the presidential villa which he said is different from the Barracks he occupied as a Head of State during his first coming.

He urged Germany to support Nigeria in its bid to get a seat at the United Nations stating that the country is qualified considering its number and position in the African region.

Elizabeth Archibong