Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday admitted the growing criticisms of his administration’s handling of the war against Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorism, his government has made “substantial progress” in tackling the menace of terrorism especially in Northeast region.
Receiving a delegation of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) led by its President, Dr Christos Christou, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, President Buhari lauded the sacrifices of the organization in conflict areas in Nigeria, saying that they are well appreciated.
Medecins Sans Frontieres is an international humanitarian medical Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) of French origin best known for its projects in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic diseases.
It works in eight Northern and two Southern States in Nigeria. They include Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Taraba, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It operates in the two other States of Lagos (Southwest) and Rivers (Niger Delta region)
The Nigerian President said the sacrifices as individuals and as a group were quite enormous, particularly as they operate on a non-profit basis.
“We know the pathetic situation of children not knowing where their parents are, or the communities they come from, and that was why we established the new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. This is to harness and channel resources to such deprived people,” he declared.
The President promised that respite and succour would come to all the troubled areas, adding that many prominent and well-to-do organizations were also involved, along with international agencies.
President Buhari told his guests: “We are grateful to you. We will secure the environment in order for you to do your job. You are not doing it for profit. We remain very appreciative.”
Dr Christou said Doctors Without Borders have been active in Nigeria since 1996, and is an international, independent medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflicts, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare.
The organization, he said, adheres strictly to principles of independence, impartiality and neutrality, among others.
Its budget for year 2020 is N17.7 billion, with 90 per cent of its 3,000 staff being Nigerians.