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Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday told the United Nations General Assembly, (UNGA), that the best way to deal with conflicts is to go beyond their symptoms and tackle immediate causes.
Delivering Nigeria’s remarks at the 76th session of the UNGA in New York, the Nigerian president noted that there is a need for sustained investments and more international cooperation to end human rights abuses, poverty and inequalities in countries as there can be no quick fix to the problems.
He also regretted that democratic gains were being eroded in West Africa by an unconstitutional takeover of government, which he said must not be tolerated.
Buhari called on world leaders to unite against unconstitutional take over of governments in some parts of the world.
“We must deal not only with the symptoms of conflict but also the immediate causes that fuel conflicts in the first place,” Buhari said. “These include poor and undemocratic governance, human rights abuses, poverty, ignorance, injustice and inequalities”.
“There are no easy solutions to these conditions. They require long-term investments and more effective international cooperation”, he stated.
Speaking on the trend of coups, Buhari said the “unconstitutional takeover of power” is eroding the democratic gains of the sub-region.
The president further said illicit arms trade is resulting in “devastating humanitarian and socio-economic consequences” in Africa.
Speaking on the efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies against Boko Haram, he said the terrorist group, although “fragmented” by internal strife and weakened, “is still active and preying on soft targets”.
“As a result of the renewed vigour of our military, many terrorist fighters are voluntarily surrendering to our security forces.”
“Nigeria will continue to work closely with UN Counter-Terrorism bodies and entities with a view to bringing this scourge to an end”, he further stated.
