President Bola Tinubu has reached out to the United Nations, highlighting the urgency of global cooperation in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against terrorism. In a meeting with Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office on Counter-Terrorism, held at the State House, President Tinubu emphasized the far-reaching consequences of terrorism on global peace, mass displacement of people, and the alarming rise in poverty.
President Tinubu stressed that terrorism consistently undoes the progress made in development and amplifies instability in families and communities. He called for a more consistent and robust response from the United Nations, particularly in the context of the developing world.
While acknowledging the UN’s efforts, President Tinubu urged for greater support in the fight against terrorism. He stated, “We appreciate all that you have been doing. We know in the face of many demands and challenges, you can still do much better. We can score you ‘A’ in collaboration but ‘B’ in physical support. You have to do more because terrorism is an effective danger to democracy; terrorism is also an effective danger to development. Growth and prosperity cannot be achieved until we banish terrorism.”
President Tinubu also emphasized the need to address the root causes of terrorism, such as poverty and injustice, and urged the UN to provide vital assistance to help mitigate these issues.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, highlighted the conditions that promote insurgency, including poverty and injustice, while emphasizing the Nigerian Government’s efforts to combat these challenges through investments in education and social security.
Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, the Under-Secretary-General, praised Nigeria’s contributions to global counter-terrorism efforts and acknowledged the country’s existing framework for prevention, mitigation, and reconciliation. He emphasized the importance of international collaboration and capacity building to address the complex issue of terrorism.
Voronkov revealed that the UN is planning a Counter-Terrorism Summit in Abuja scheduled for April 2024. This summit will be predominantly driven by African nations and will focus on African priorities in the fight against terrorism, underlining the critical role that Nigeria plays in the global response to this threat.