The United States of America says it will get the United Kingdom, France and other countries to augment its support for Nigeria to address the humanitarian in the oil-rich nation’s northeast.
U.S. Secretary of State Mr John Kerry made the promise on Tuesday while in a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
A statement by a spokesman for President Buhari, Femi Adesina, said Mr Kerry told President Buhari that his country was aware that his administration inherited a big problem, but assured him of America’s support.
Mr Kerry also commended the courage of President Buhari in fighting corruption.
He said: “We applaud what you are doing. Corruption creates a ready-made playing field for recruiting extremists.
“You inherited a big problem, and we will support you in any way we can. We will work with you very closely.
“We don’t want to interfere, but will offer opportunities as you require”.
President Buhari had earlier thanked the U.S. for both hard and soft military help it was rendering to Nigeria in the war against terror.
“The training and intelligence that we could not muster ourselves, we received.
“The training has made Boko Haram less of a threat to Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region, while the military hardware has given our troops added confidence,” he told Mr Kerry.
President Buhari further assured the American envoy that he would institutionalised the anti-corruption crusade to ensure it would last beyond the life of the current administration.
He said his administration would insist on the standards it was establishing.
“We are laying down administrative and financial instructions in the public service that must be obeyed.
“Any breach will no longer be acceptable.
“We will retrain our staff, so that they understand the new orientation.
“And those who run afoul of these rules will be prosecuted, no matter who is involved,” he stressed.
He, however, stated that the government would be fair, just and act according to the rule of law, assuring the American envoy that “anyone perceived corrupt is innocent till we can prove it”.
