By Milcah Tanimu
President Bola Tinubu has stressed that no country can achieve national growth and prosperity unless it successfully defeats terrorism. He made this assertion during a meeting with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Vladimir Voronkov, at the presidential Villa in Abuja.
Tinubu urged the United Nations to adopt a more practical approach in supporting Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, underscoring that terrorism poses a significant threat to democracy and development.
In a statement by presidential media aide Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu expressed appreciation for the UN’s efforts while emphasizing the need for enhanced support. He noted that while collaboration with the UN has been commendable, there is room for improvement in terms of physical support.
Tinubu stated, “We can score you ‘A’ in collaboration but ‘B’ in physical support. You have to do more because terrorism is an effective danger to democracy; terrorism is also an effective danger to development. Growth and prosperity cannot be achieved until we banish terrorism.”
The President highlighted the importance of examining the aspects of where, how, and when terrorism occurs. He emphasized that tackling terrorism requires a comprehensive approach.
During the meeting, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, pointed out that poverty and injustice are key driving forces behind insurgency. He also highlighted Nigeria’s investments in education and social security as part of its efforts to address these issues.
Voronkov, the UN Under-Secretary-General, acknowledged Nigeria’s existing framework on prevention, mitigation, and reconciliation in dealing with terrorism. He commended the country’s efforts in combatting terrorism and expressed readiness to collaborate further on the international response to terrorism.
