President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday sought the assistance of the international community to curb insecurity in West African nations, especially Nigeria.
Specifically, Buhari requested the United States (U.S) to relocate its Africa Command (AFRICOM) headquarters from Stuttgart in Germany to its theatre of operation, which is Africa.
The President made the plea during a virtual meeting with U.S Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken.
The President, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, told Blinken that insecurity in Nigeria has largely been worsened by “complex negative pressures in the Sahel, Central and West Africa, as well as the Lake Chad region.”
He said: “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 the U.S. cannot be overstated as the consequences of insecurity will affect all nations, hence the imperative for concerted cooperation and collaboration of all 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 U.S. to consider re-locating AFRICOM headquarters from Stuttgart, Germany to Africa and near the Theatre of Operation.’’
The President added that Nigeria would enhance collaborations in all forms with its strategic partners for greater security for all.
