The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru has received the Resident Representative United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr Mohamed Yahya and the Senior Political Officer, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) in separate courtesy call visits at the army headquarters, Abuja.
The UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Mohamed Yahya, was at the Army Headquarters to solicit the support of the Nigerian Army (NA) in the area of its activities for regional stabilization strategy.
According to a statement by the Army Public Relations Director, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima, the UNDP representative also wants to chat about ways the body can do better in support of the objectives of ensuring peace and security of the North East.
Mr Yahaya noted that UNDP with the support of Federal and state governments has developed regional stabilization facilities with components which “Civil-Military Coordination that works closely with the NA in the North East. He applauded the numerous support the organisation received from NA and urged the Army not to relent.“
Responding, the COAS who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General Benjamin Ahanatu, commended the activities of UNDP in volatile areas such as the North East of Nigeria.
He assured the team that the Nigeria Army will give UNDP all the required support needed to succeed in its mandate while appreciating the organization for the visit and pledged more collaboration in the area of peace and development of the region.
Also, the Senior Human Rights and Political Adviser, United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Williams Liforgo, and his team were at Army Headquarters on the same day, 27 April 2021 to solicit for collaboration to end regional insecurity around the Lake Chad Basin.
Mr Liforgo noted that UNOWAS was established with a regional mandate to promote peace and security in West and Central Africa Sub-regions adding that that the UN Security Council has mandated his organization 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 in the Lake Chad Basin.
Responding, the COAS applauded the UN concern for peace, security, and stability of the sub-region while urging the UN to always avail the Nigerian Army with its plans for possible collaboration and assistance.
The COAS also pledged to support all UN programs in tandem with NA activities towards ending Insurgency and all forms of criminality in the sub-region. He pointed out that the NA is making concerted efforts and exploiting different avenues in ensuring peace at the Lake Chad Basin.
PIAK
