Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, yesterday shared with President Muhammadu Buhari some techniques applied by that country in fighting the war against terror.
At a breakfast meeting hosted yesterday by the US Vice President at the Naval Observatory, official residence of the American Vice President, Biden shared with Buhari what the US had learnt from the terror war.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina hinted that Biden counselled Buhari that victory cannot come from military option alone. Noting that military option must be combined with strong socio-economic support programmes, Biden promised that America would work with Nigeria in that direction.
America has had its own bad experience with terrorists, the high point being when they terror group launched massive attacks that killed thousands in September 2001.
In turn, President Buhari, who compared notes on the fight against terror with Biden, also shared Nigeria’s experience in the battle against Boko Haram which has caused carnage in the North-eastern part of the country.
The Vice President, who assured of the goodwill of the United States in rebuilding the Nigerian economy, observed, however, that corruption and weak institutions must be tackled if Nigeria was to benefit from reforms.
He added that seasoned technocrats must manage key sectors of the Nigerian economy, and only then would investors be attracted to the country.
Biden also congratulated President Buhari on his victory at the March 2015 elections, saying it was obvious that the president enjoys the confidence of the Nigerian people.
Responding, Buhari who thanked the US for standing by Nigeria in the run up to the general elections early this year said the visit of the Secretary of State, John Kerry was critical, as it sent home the message that America would not brook the subversion of the people’s will.
On oil theft, the Nigerian President estimated losses at between 10 and 20 billion dollars, stressing that such income could have been deployed with salutary impact on various spheres of national life like education and healthcare, among others.
Adesina added that both America and Nigeria pledged renewed commitment to work as partners at the meeting.
Source:Leadership
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