President Muhammadu Buhari has called the attention of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to the security challenges in Nigeria and other African countries.
He raised the concern while reading the collective statement of African countries at the 14th Summit of the OIC in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
On issues of concurrent global significance, President Buhari said the African members of the OIC were pleased with renewed efforts by the organisation for the restoration of the national rights of the Palestinians and other long-standing unresolved conflicts.
READ ALSO: Many Injured As Terrorists Attack Mosque In Borno
“In addition to the core issue of the restoration of the national rights of the Palestinians and other long-standing unresolved conflicts, we now grapple with serious security problems, represented by the destructive activities of terrorists, violent extremists, and armed criminals in many of OIC member states,” the President was quoted as saying in a statement on Saturday by his media aide, Mr Garba Shehu.
President Buhari informed the gathering that some of these problems have assumed grave dimensions in recent times and required serious and coordinated approach for lasting solutions.
He said, “This situation has also been compounded by a series of political crises, which continue to affect a number of our countries.
“In this regard, we support the actions of the OIC in seeking an early resolution to the lingering Palestinian question and the rights of the Palestinian people to an independent homeland.”
“We equally subscribe to the various actions of the OIC in resolving the crises in Syria, Yemen, and Libya.
“We commend OIC engagement with other international actors in addressing the various political conflicts in the OIC region and the plight of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar,” the President added.
He, therefore, passed a vote of confidence on the intervention programmes of the various institutions under the OIC for their impacts on Nigeria and other African countries.
The Nigerian leader lauded the robust interventions of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in key sectors such as agriculture, trade, and investment.
According to him, the robust interventions of the OIC institutions and principally the IDB Group have been effective in such key sectors as rural development and food security, science, technology and innovation, and poverty alleviation among others.
“In particular, Nigeria acknowledges the support of OIC member states in countering the menace of terrorism and armed criminality in West Africa, the Lake Chad area, and the Sahel countries,” President Buhari said.
He added, “We appreciate their contributions in the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis arising from the insurgency but urge them to do more.”
The President also commended OIC institutions for supporting development projects aimed at achieving rapid socio-economic development in the country.
He highlighted the Inter-Water Basic transfer aimed at recharging the Lake Chad, the National Food Security Programme, the Second Niger Bridge, various roads and school rehabilitation projects as some projects in Nigeria that have attracted the support of OIC institutions.
President Buhari also used the occasion to express confidence that the ongoing political transition in Sudan and Algeria would be concluded smoothly and peacefully.
He thanked King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud for hosting and chairing the OIC Summit.
The President also commended the Turkish President, Recep Erdogan, whose tenure just ended, “for his commitment to the ideals of our organisation and his efforts in ensuring that the OIC achieves its set goals and objectives, throughout his tenure as Chairman.”
