President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday stressed the need for the support of the United States and other “important and strategic partners” in combating the security challenges facing Nigeria.
He said the support was necessary because the consequences of insecurity in Nigeria would affect all nations.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President made the call during a virtual meeting with the US Secretary of State, Mr Anthony Blinken.
The statement was titled, ‘Security: President Buhari asks US to relocate headquarters of AFRICOM to Africa, warns of likely spillovers’.
Recall that Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, had while lamenting the nation’s security situation on Saturday, called on the President to seek help.
Apart from seeking the assistance of the US, according to the Presidency’s statement, Buhari also called on the US to consider relocating US Africa Command from Stuttgart, Germany, to Africa, nearer the Theatre of Operation.
He also admonished the international community to support Nigeria and the sub-region in tackling growing security challenges to avoid spillovers.
Buhari said AFRICOM, which partners with countries to counter transnational threats, should be relocated to Africa to strengthen ongoing efforts to check the security situation, with likely effect on other nations.
He said, “The security challenges in Nigeria remain of great concern to us and impacted more negatively, by existing complex negative pressures in the Sahel, Central and West Africa, as well as the Lake Chad Region.
“Compounded as the situation remains, Nigeria and her security forces remain resolutely committed to containing them and addressing their root causes.
“The support of important and strategic partners like United States cannot be overstated as the consequences of insecurity will affect all nations hence the imperative for concerted cooperation and collaboration of all nations to overcome these challenges.
“In this connection, and considering the growing security challenges in West and Central Africa, Gulf of Guinea, Lake Chad region and the Sahel, weighing heavily on Africa, it underscores the need for the United States to consider re-locating AFRICOM Headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany to Africa and near the Theatre of Operation.”
