President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja urged Germany to support Nigeria’s quest for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.
Buhari made the call at a joint news conference with the visiting President of Germany, Mr Joachim Gauck, after a closed-door meeting.
According to him, Nigeria deserves a permanent seat in the UN Security Council bearing in mind its land mass, population and position in Africa.
The President said: “Outside the bilateral, on the United Nations, Nigeria as an African and an uncommon country thinks that we are qualified by our number, by our size and by our position in Africa maybe to have a permanent seat in the United Nations.
“We hope Germany will support us.’’
Buhari expressed appreciation to the German government for its support and assistance to Nigeria specifically citing the invitation extended to him to address the Group of Seven Industrialised nations (G-7) under the chairmanship of Germany.
He described as “very unfortunate’’ the bomb attacks on innocent people at the Internally Displaced Camp in Dikwa, Borno State, at a time when the German President was on an official visit to Nigeria.
“I have to start with thanking Germany very sincerely for the invitation extended to me when Germany was chairing the G-7, within the week I was sworn in, I was invited and when I went, the first point on the agenda was security and security against Boko Haram.
“This showed the genuine concern the G-7 has for the security in Nigeria.
“It is a pity that Boko Haram welcomed you with explosions in Maiduguri that took so many lives. But I have attempted to explain in so many fora that Boko Haram was not what it used to be.’’
Buhari emphasised that the Nigeria Army and other security agencies have successfully prevented Boko Haram insurgents from holding any part of the country in the North East states of the country.
He, however, said that the insurgents have resorted to attacking soft targets with improvised devices to inflict maximum casualties.
Buhari also thanked the people and government of Germany for their support during the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the German president, who spoke through an interpreter, announced a donation of 50 million dollars in support of the ongoing fight against Boko Haram in the country.
He also pledged that the German government would support the Multinational Joint Task Force with necessary weapons and equipment to tackle the menace of Boko Haram.
“Mr President, you personally, have made it very clear that it is in a very determined way that you intend to fight Boko Haram and its method that deeply violates principles of humanity.
“That is something that meets with the respect of the people in Europe and in Germany.
“And we intend to support you in that and we will continue to offer our support to you in that endeavour.
“We believe that it is very good approach you have chosen and that is something for which we will make available financial support.’’
President Gauck, who condoled with Nigeria over the bomb attacks on the Internally Displaced Persons’ camp in Dikwa, Borno State, said his country would continue to assist victims of terrorism in Nigeria.
He expressed the readiness of some German companies to help revamp moribund industries in Nigeria.
Gauck, who applauded the ongoing fight against corruption, urged Buhari to remain steadfast in ensuring good governance and rapid development of the country.
-NAN
