Obama promises to help Nigeria end Boko Haram

At a meeting between the president of the United States of America, Barack Obama, and President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, September 20, the former reportedly described his Nigerian counterpart as a man of integrity. Buhari has explained the situation in Nigeria to Obama assuring him that the government was making steady progress towards resolving the problem in the Niger Delta region which has led to economic sabotage on a grand scale. 

The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the 71st edition of the UN General Assembly, holding in New York. President Buhari told Obama: “

We are making definite progress on how many factions of the militant groups exist, their leadership and operational basis, and we have equally sought the cooperation of the oil majors. In a short while, I believe the issues would be resolved.” 

He thanked America for the help rendered in the area of security through provision of armaments, training for Nigerian troops, and sharing of intelligence, which has led to the degradation of Boko Haram in the north-east. He told Obama that Nigeria was open to support in combating the humanitarian crisis currently ravaging the region. 

He added that the farming season was good this year, with the prospect of good harvest, and that “Nigeria is on the road to food self-sufficiency soon. We shall be able to feed ourselves, and utilize the billions of dollars spent on importing food on other productive areas.” President Buhari reiterated that his administration came to power on the tripod promises of security, battle against corruption, and revamping of the economy, stressing that there would be no let-up in fulfilling those electoral promises. 

“You have made real progress in defeating the brutal organization called Boko Haram, and that was achieved because of your leadership.” Describing Nigeria as a big and important country in sub-Saharan Africa, President Obama said he would support Buhari “in the final and comprehensive defeat of Boko Haram, resolution of the Niger Delta crisis, which would help ramp up oil production and increase revenue, resolving the humanitarian crisis in the North East, recovering stolen money, and revamping the economy.”