Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Senate President has called on the European Union and other donor agencies for more support to solve the humanitarian crisis foisted by the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.
Saraki, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, made the call when the President of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Pittella Gianni, visited him at the National Assembly in Abuja.
The Senate President, who was represented by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, thanked the EU for their support so far, but said more assistance is needed to feed and resettle scores of displaced persons now living in camps.
Saraki said: “The Boko Haram insurgency started around 2009, we have been able to receive a lot of support from EU in fighting the Boko Haram and to our delight, the situation has improved from what it used to be in 2014 and 2015. What we are battling with now is the humanitarian situation caused by the insurgency.
“This is particularly a sad situation. Millions of our people are displaced. What we are battling today is to get these people back to their respective communities and also to ensure that we provide sustenance for them and that is the other challenge.
“I want to use this opportunity to urge the European Union to step up and give more support, especially in terms of security that would be required and I want to assure you that, we will do everything possible to
ensure that whatever support we get from the EU or other bodies, is applied judiciously.”
The Senate President further solicited for the EU Parliament’s support to combat illegal migration and terrorism, as well as to strengthen the rule of law and good governance in the country.
He told the EU Parliamentarians that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is determined to enthrone strong democratic institutions to improve the rule of law and good governance in the country.
Responding to Pittella Gianni’s request for legislations that would attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country and discourage illegal migration to Europe, the Senate President said that the Senate will formulate and pass bills that would support the Federal Government’s efforts at enshrining the rule of law and good governance.
“We are glad to work with you to ensure we stop people from migrating illegally and as a Senate, we will ensure that while we get support from EU, we will also support the efforts of this administration in that regard,” he said.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation said that the EU Parliament shares the pain of Nigeria as a nation and therefore would like to contribute to combat illegal migration through Foreign Direct Investment into the economy.
He however urged the National Assembly to address legal challenges as regards the inflow of FDIs by amending the relevant laws.
Packaged by Ojo Peter
