President Goodluck Jonathan has boosted on behalf of the Nigerian troops fighting Boko Haram insurgency in the northeastern part of the country.
The President while playing host to the outgoing French ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Jacques Champagne De Labriolle, on Friday in Abuja, expressed confidence that Nigerian troops will maintain the momentum they have built up in ongoing war against Boko Haram.
This was made known in a statement issued by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, a copy obtained by Sahara Reporters.
President Jonathan also expressed optimism that the Nigerian troops would rapidly recover more captured territory from the Boko Haram terrorist group, following his visit to some recovered towns in Borno and Adamawa States on Thursday.
He acknowledged that he found the soldiers in very high spirits, and that they were well prepared and determined to successfully complete their operations of wiping out the extremist group.
“We have already recovered much territory and very soon our troops will clear the terrorists out of other areas not presently under our control,’’ Jonathan assured the French ambassador.
President Jonathan restated Nigeria’s appreciation of France’s unwavering support for Nigeria and its neighbouring countries in the war against the Boko Haram terrorism.
“President Jonathan particularly commended his French counterpart for organising the Paris Summit of Heads of State of Nigeria, Benin Republic, Cameroon, Niger and Chad in May 2014 to foster greater regional cooperation against terrorism and insurgency. The President pledged that beyond the ongoing military campaign in the North East, Nigeria will continue to implement all agreements reached at the summit to ensure lasting peace and security within its borders and in neighbouring countries,” he said.
Mr. Jonathan also seized the opportunity of Mr. Labriolle’s visit, who brought a congratulatory message from President Francois Hollande to Nigeria for the recent successes against Boko Haram, to reassure the international community of his firm commitment to free, fair and credible polls in the forthcoming election.
Responding to President Jonathan’s assurances, the French envoy told Jonathan that France was “confident in the future of Nigeria and its ability to continue playing a huge role in Africa and world affairs.”
Labriolle, however, expressed happiness at the improved trade and economic ties between Nigeria and France in the last three years, revealing that no fewer than 250 French companies are currently operating in Nigeria.
Recall that following the decision of United Nations Security Council to place Boko Haram on a blacklist of al-Qaeda-linked groups, France, Israel and China reaffirmed their commitment to support Nigeria in its fight against the Islamist militants.
Meanwhile, France also held a regional summit on Boko Haram in Paris, the summit which brought together French President Francois Hollande, President Goodluck Jonathan, and their counterparts from Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
0 comments:
Post a Comment