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| Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan |
President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday in Washington DC called for more effective global action and implementation of all existing international protocols against terrorism and violent extremism.
Jonathan, according to a statement by presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, made the appeal in the country’s statement to the ongoing US-African Leaders Summit.
The statement said that he also demanded a more effective international sanctions regime against countries, organisations and individuals that sponsor terrorism in any part of the world.
The president was quoted as saying that some of the security problems facing Nigeria and other African countries were transnational in scope and could not be solved by any country acting alone.
He said that because terrorism, piracy and transnational organised crimes had become global in scope, greater regional and international collaboration was needed to combat them, the statement added.
“Several African countries, including Nigeria, are now challenged by terrorism and violent extremism. For several countries in the continent, terrorism has become a real threat to social progress, peace and security.
“The violent and criminal activities of Boko Haram in my country have captured the world’s attention. This has been especially so since the terrorist group abducted some girls from their school dormitory in the North-Eastern Nigeria in April.
“Nigeria may be the epicentre of Boko Haram terrorist activities at the moment, but its affiliation with international terrorist networks, dramatically increases its capacity and reach beyond Nigeria’s borders,” Jonathan said.
He stated that Nigeria was doing everything possible to combat Boko Haram and violent extremism by enhancing its intelligence and military capacities in addition to political and socio-economic solutions.
He added that his administration was also building partnerships, both at the regional and international levels, to combat the threat posed by terrorism in the West African sub-region.
“In this enterprise, we are pleased to acknowledge the supportive role of the United States. The assistance that we continue to receive from the United States and our other international partners is proof indeed that partnership can multiply our strengths in addressing common challenges.
“We call for an effective international sanctions regime that would hold accountable any country, institutions and individual that finances terrorism in any part of the world.
“This inaugural US-Africa Summit must also call for effective action and implementation of all existing international protocols on this critical issue.
“Because terrorism, piracy and transnational organised crimes are global in scope, greater and international collaboration is required to combat them. We must act in concert,” Jonathan urged.
The statement said that the president had conveyed the same message at a bilateral meeting with Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
He was quoted to have said that Nigeria, US and the global community must work with greater synergy and unity of purpose to overcome Boko Haram and other terrorist groups.
At the meeting, which took place at Roosevelt Room, West Wing of the White House, Biden described Nigeria as an “extremely important” ally of the United States, the statement said.
“He reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working with Nigeria to overcome the Boko Haram insurgency, adding that, US was also willing to give Nigeria any assistance it may require to contain the more recent threat of Ebola.
“Jonathan and Vice President Biden also discussed further joint cooperation to boost trade and investments, agricultural development and access to electricity in Nigeria,” the statement read.
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