By Olayemi Esan
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS) have solicited for Nigerian Army support in the area of its activities for regional stabilization strategy to ensuring peace and security of the North East and to end regional insecurity around the Lake Chad Basin.
This was made known in a statement on Wednesday by Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima in Abuja.
According to him, in separate visits, the Resident Representative United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr Mohamed Yahya and the Senior Political Officer, United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS) on 27 April 2021 paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru.
He said, the UNDP led by the Resident Representative, Mr Mohamed Yahya, stated that he was at the Army Headquarters to solicit support from the Nigerian Army (NA) in the area of its activities for regional stabilization strategy and to chat about ways the UNDP can do better in support of the objectives of ensuring peace and security of the North East.
He noted that UNDP with the support of Federal and state governments has developed regional stabilization facilities with components.
This includes according to him, Civil-Military Coordination that works closely with the Nigerian Army in the North East. He applauded the numerous support the organisation received from Nigerian Army and urged the Army not to relent.
Responding, the COAS represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Maj Gen BI Ahanatu, commended the activities of UNDP in volatile areas such as North-East Nigeria.
He assured the team that the Nigerian Army will give UNDP all the required support needed to succeed in its mandate.
The COAS therefore, thanked the organisation for the visit and pledged more collaboration in the area of peace and development of the region.
In the meantime, the Senior Political officer UNOWAS led by the Senior Human Right and Political Adviser, Mr Williams Liforgo were also at Army Headquarters to solicit for collaboration to end regional insecurity around the Lake Chad Basin.
In his remarks, Mr Liforgo noted that UNOWAS was established with a regional mandate to promote peace and security in West and Central Africa Sub-regions.
He noted the security challenges in the Lake Chad Basin, revealing that the UN Security Council has mandated his organisation to continue to engage the actors and consult further in a bid to explore various means of support to member states and other actors in the sub-region with a view to addressing the security, development and humanitarian challenges.
Responding, the COAS applauded the UN concern for peace, security, and stability of the sub-region. He urged the UN to always avail the NA with its plans for possible collaboration and assistance.
The COAS also pledged to support all UN programmes in tandem with NA activities towards ending Insurgency and all forms of criminality in the sub-region.
He said the NA is making concerted efforts and exploiting different avenues in ensuring peace at the Lake Chad Basin.
Highlights of the visits were the signing of the visitors' register, presentation of souvenirs, and group photographs with PSOs and Directors at Army Headquarters.
