Boko Haram: Buhari wants joint efforts by West African countries

President Muhammadu Buhari has noted that Boko Haram has exacted heavy toll in terms of lives and resources in Nigeria and some neighbouring countries.

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, said Boko Haram has exacted heavy toll in terms of lives and resources in Nigeria and some neighbouring countries.

President Buhari spoke at State House, Abuja, while receiving the new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr Mahamat Saleh Annadif, a Chadian.

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The President, who described the problems as “enormous”, stressed the need for countries in the West African sub-region and those in the Sahel, rocked by security challenges, to team up to confront the menace.

The President, who said Mali equally has a large swathe of its territory occupied by militants, said: “You are our neighbour.

“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.

“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.”

President Buhari, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, promised the assistance of Nigeria to the Special Representative, so that he could succeed in his assignment.

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

He said he was quite familiar with the problems of the Sahel region, and would depend on the help of Nigeria to succeed.