We can reorganize our country- Buhari tells EU

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated the fact that Nigeria will fare better, though it might take a while. President Buhari made this known in Abuja while receiving the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, in the State House.

Buhari noted that past experiences can assure Nigerians of the certainty of the country getting through with most of its challenges. The President said: “We have the experience of the civil war. I could recall the role of the military, the army, and each commander had in his pocket how to behave himself and how to allow international bodies like yourself to go round and see for themselves that people are treated in the most humane way. We have this experience and I assure you that we also have this confidence in your organisation. “That is why I feel that Nigeria is capable of handling this crisis, it may take long but we are capable of handling it.”

“I assure you of Nigeria’s commitment to enhance and deepen cooperation with the EU in all areas. Our priorities in the next level is to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, are rehabilitated so that livelihood should be established and the children should not lose the opportunity to go back to school, which is very important for the future of that area and Nigeria generally. “I assure you that we are aware of these problems and we will continue to do our best. The newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is coordinating NEMA and others, to make sure that whatever resources we get are well utilised. The ministry will be accountable to the government instead of having too many bodies doing the same thing. We are also reaching out to foreign countries explaining to them our position, and we are confident we will get over it,” Buhari said.

Responding, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, pledged the support of the Union in the Nation’s fight against insurgency. “We would like to support your efforts. We believe all relevant actors; military, civilian as well as humanitarian should come together. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is suggesting such high level dialogue. “In situations such as what we have in the northeast, international law and international humanitarian law should apply. We believe in your efforts to end the conflict; military effort alone probably will not be sufficient without identifying and addressing the socio-economic factors causing it, “he stated.