United States Secretary of State, Mr. Antony Blinken, has said Nigeria is facing extraordinary security challenges at this material time.
The American super envoy, however, declared that Nigeria has an ally in his country.
Blinken, who was at a virtual roundtable with some selected journalists from Nigeria and Kenya after an equally virtual visit to both countries, said he discussed the security situation in Nigeria with President Muhammadu Buhari and some other top Nigerian government officials.
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While answering a question from one of the Nigerian journalists, Blinken said, “I think it is fair to say that the challenges that Nigeria face when it comes to security are quite extraordinary – and you referenced them – whether it’s terrorism, whether it’s banditry and criminality, whether it’s piracy. All of these are real challenges.
“The good news is this: One, we are in absolute solidarity between us in trying to address these challenges together.
“And the United States is committed to supporting Nigeria as it meets these challenges.
“And what that involves primarily is helping Nigeria continue to build its capacity through training, through resources, through information sharing, through equipment and all of that done, very importantly, with full respect for human rights.
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“But it’s also important that we work together, as we are, to address some of the drivers or facilitators of violence and instability that we know those engaged in these activities can sometimes feed on.
“And that’s why you have to have a comprehensive approach to these challenges.
“It’s not – the security piece is vitally important, but it’s insufficient, and so economic development, progress, opportunity is hugely important.”