Saraki seeks foreign aide against Boko Haram
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has on Wednesday urged the international community to assist the Federal Government of Nigeria in the effort to defeat.
Saraki also called on the international community to assist Nigeria in the rehabilitation of terror ravaged parts of the Northeast.
The senate President made the call at separate sessions he had with the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Zenner and his Spanish counterpart, Mr. Alfonso Barnudvo Sdbastian De Erice, when the duo visited him in Abuja.
According to him, such assistance, would help in bringing relief to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the devastated areas.
He lamented the humanitarian situation and extent of destruction in the insurgency ravaged areas, saying the situation required urgent and broad support across the world.
Saraki, who led a delegation of senators to the Northeast on Monday, said government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of rebuilding the affected areas.
He said, “As you talked about insecurity, particularly the insurgency in the Northeast, it is a problem that we alone cannot tackle. A couple of days ago, some of us were there in the Northeast, in Borno State, to see the effects on the entire community particularly the Internally Displaced Persons.
“I think that it is clear that a large part of the Northeast needs reconstruction and rehabilitation and I think this is an area where long term funding will play a role to help us in rebuilding infrastructure.
“Those places needed to be rebuilt. There are no schools. There are no roads. The houses have been destroyed and I think that the international community can assist us by providing funding that will allow us to begin the rehabilitation and reconstruction of these areas.
“I think this is an area I will like you to focus on and look at the opportunities. Things like these have happened in other parts of the world where the international community had come together and provided a kind of long term funding that will be required for reconstruction.
“It is clear that from our budget alone, it is not possible for us to fund it and I think it is also not right as leaders to continue to subject Nigerians, old, young men, mothers and their children who have been in camps for years to continue there. I think it is one area that we will like to have your support.”
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