President urges AU to find solution to unrest in South-Sudan, Burundi

chika ebuzor

August 3, 2016 9:58 AM

Buhari stated this while addressing a joint news conference with the visiting Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

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Buhari stated this while addressing a joint news conference with the visiting Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

He described the situation in South Sudan as ``unfortunate and agonising’’, and expressed regret that many citizens in Burundi and South Sudan were living in primitive conditions.

"I listened to some of the points raised at the (AU) meeting in Kigali.

"We also discussed the unfortunate incidents in South Sudan and in Burundi.

"It’s a very agonizing situation (that we have there).

"Some of our brothers are still living under primitive conditions.

"We hope that at the next AU meeting and with the efforts the United Nations is making, we will be able to stabilise the situation in South Sudan and in Burundi so that there will be minimum casualties.’’

The President stated that his administration is working hard to stabilise the deteriorating energy situation across the West African sub-region.

He praised Dangote Group for the efforts it is making towards building gas pipelines to improve and stabilise power supply in Nigeria and beyond.

"We are also building pipelines, but it’s not as formidable as what Dangote (Group) is doing.

"We are improving on it.

"We also have the Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas project that is helping to liquefy gas with modern technology and modern technology is making it flexible.

"If you will recall, I mentioned to the President of Benin that we have power problem.

"Benin Republic has power problem because they depend on us and we are working very hard to stabilise the situation.

"The resources are available, the technology is available, we are trying to stabilise the situation.

"If ‎we improve power it means our productivity can be competitive and God willing, we are going to achieve our objectives,’’ he said.

Earlier, President Gnassingbe disclosed that he was in Nigeria to inspect the investment of Dangote Groups in gas, power and fertilizer projects, sited in Lagos state.

"I'm impressed by the investment of Dangote Group because we have been talking of socio-economic integration and promoting trade among African countries.

"If you want to promote trade, you must have investors that are very competitive and can contribute to reducing import from non-African countries.

"I was told the gas pipeline that will be built will be buried under the sea‎.

"It means if you want to promote blue economy, our ocean needs to be very safe,’’ he said.

He, therefore, stressed the need for security along the coastal line to safeguard pipelines that would be laid.

Gnassingbe invited President Muhammadu Buhari to Togo to attend the maritime summit slated for October 15, 2016.

chika ebuzor