President Buhari Says We're Now Better Equipped To Battle Boko Haram

Buhari is now more than ever well equipped to battle the Boko Haram insurgency and assures us that this time, their best will be good enough to rid us Nigerians of Boko Haram once and for all.

The president on Friday said with the coming on board of the Multi National Joint Task Force which has been established under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Nigeria and neighbouring countries are now on a better stead to defeat the terrorist group, Boko Haram.

He said with the formation of what he called stronger regional coalition, the countries in the region had an increased capacity to deal effectively with the sect and other terrorist groups.

In a statement by Mr. Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, he quoted the President as speaking while granting audience to the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Adesina said that Buhari reaffirmed his belief that the full activation and deployment of the joint task force would lead to the speedy defeat and elimination of Boko Haram.

The President added that with the Command and Control Centre of the Nigerian military now in Maiduguri, Borno State, the morale of troops in the front-line states had improved significantly.

"You can tell the Secretary-General that we are doing our best and our best will be good enough for the nation and the sub-region," Buhari told Chambas who commended him for his strong and positive actions against terrorism.

The President also called on the UN to assist African countries in the acquisition and use of innovative technologies to ensure more credible elections. He said: "When citizens recognise that their votes count, it will boost their confidence in democracy and their countries’ electoral systems,” he said."

Recalling that in the last general elections in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission  (INEC) used smart card readers to authenticate prospective voters, President Buhari observed that while Nigeria could afford the use of such technology in its elections, other African countries may require support and assistance from the international community.

The UN envoy also welcomed the President’s successful visit to Cameroon this week and his reaffirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to the peaceful resolution of all border issues with Cameroon.