Despite the recent bomb blasts in Abuja and some states in the North-east, President Muhammadu Buhari has said he remained fully confident that by the end of this year, Boko Haram’s ability to attack, seize, ravage and hold any Nigerian territory will have been completely obliterated.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the president spoke when he met with the Commander of United States Africa Command, Gen David Rodriguez.
Buhari said with greater support from his administration in terms of improved training, equipment, logistics and welfare, the Nigerian Armed Forces were well positioned to meet the December deadline which he gave to them to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
The president seized the opportunity of Rodriquez’s visit to restate his appreciation of the US support for Nigeria’s efforts to overcome terrorism and insurgency.
Buhari said: “We must thank the United States of America for sending training teams and equipment to us. The positive results of our collaboration are evident.
“Structured attacks by the insurgents have reduced and by the end of the year, we should see the final routing of Boko Haram as an organised fighting force.”
Buhari however, appealed for greater cooperation from the US in securing the Gulf of Guinea through which stolen Nigerian crude oil was shipped abroad.
The president said Nigeria had suffered severe revenue losses from crude oil theft and reinstated his administration’s determination to end the criminal practice.
However, the president said Nigeria would welcome more support from the international community in this regard.
Rodriguez said he was in the country to strengthen Nigeria/United States military relations, and also explore further options for assisting the Multinational Joint Task Force established by Nigeria and her neighbours, to fight Boko Haram.