'Military option not enough to stop terror group' - US

dimeji akinloye

July 20, 2015 8:52 PM

US Vice President told Buhari that military option is not enough to win the fight against Boko Haram

President Muhammadu Buhari being welcomed by the US entourage at the John Base Andrews Airport, Washington on Monday, July 20 ahead of his meeting President Barack Obama.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday, July 20, in Washington DC, U.S. was hosted to a breakfast meeting by American Vice-President, Joe Biden, where they compared notes on the terror war.

At the meeting, which held at the Naval Observatory, official residence of Vice President, Biden shared with his guest what the U.S. has learnt from the terror war, saying that "victory cannot come from military option alone.’’

He said that military option must be combined with strong socio-economic support programmes, promising that the U.S. would work with Nigeria in that direction.

Biden assured of the goodwill of the U.S. in rebuilding the Nigerian economy, but observed that corruption and weak institutions must be tackled, if Nigeria is to benefit from reforms.

He stressed that seasoned technocrats must manage key sectors of the Nigerian economy, and only then will investors be attracted to the country.

Biden congratulated Buhari on his victory at the March 2015 elections, adding that it was obvious that the President enjoyed the confidence of the Nigerian people.

In his remarks, Buhari thanked the U.S. for standing by Nigeria in the run up to general elections early this year, noting that 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 President estimated losses between 10 and 20 billion dollars, stressing that such income could have been deployed with salutary impact on various spheres of national life such as education and healthcare, among others.

NAN reports that both America and Nigeria pledged renewed commitment to work as partners at the very insightful meeting.

dimeji akinloye