The United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, has expressed firm support for the current effort by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration to deal with the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.
He gave the assurance while speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
Speaking through former Chairman of the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) and special representative of UN Secretary General for Nigeria and West Africa, Ibn Chambers, Moon also expressed support for the use of the Lake Chad Basin as the staging platform for the multinational task force being put in place to fight Boko Haram.
He commended Nigerians for the maturity demonstrated so far in the preparation towards the general election now scheduled for March 28 and April 11.
The UN boss said the body would support Nigeria’s effort through its peacekeeping department, to ensure a truly joint operational force with a clear command and control, as well as unity of purpose among the different countries contributing troops to fight the terrorists.
“In this you can count on the strong support of the United Nations. The Secretary General wishes to assure that in the area of humanitarian support with the displaced persons in Nigeria, we will continue to work with Nigerian authorities,” he said.
Chambers informed that the Secretary General had a telephone conversation with President Jonathan, a day before he spoke to the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari when the possibility of postponement of the elections became apparent.
“We have seen that the postponement has been accepted by all the political parties and stakeholders. The reasons adduced are known now. Of course, in some states, it is clear that very few people relatively have been able to collect their PVCs,” he added.
Chambers observed that the postponement had provided an opportunity for many more Nigerians to collect their PVCs and be able to exercise franchise.
