President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in London called on the global community to give greater support to countries whose populace is suffering humanitarian crises caused by terrorism and civil strife.
Speaking at the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in the British capital, President Buhari said that without collective support and assistance from all well-meaning countries, companies and organisations, the humanitarian catastrophe affecting millions of people in countries like Nigeria and Syria cannot be successfully addressed.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Buhari noted that the increasingly complex and inter-connected security challenges faced by the global community necessitated increased international cooperation in pursuit of effective solutions.
President Buhari, according to the statement, strongly condemned the continuing violence by terrorists against innocent civilians, abuse of human rights and destruction of public and private assets and cultural heritages in Nigeria, Syria and other countries of the world.
The statement said he told the gathering that having experienced civil war and terrorist insurgency, Nigeria understood the pains inflicted on the people of Syria and the hardship that innocent civilians suffered in the hands of misguided elements.
President Buhari called on all parties involved in the Syrian conflict to seek a peaceful resolution, saying that only a political solution could bring the ongoing tragedy in the country to an end, the statement added.
President Buhari was also said to have expressed Nigeria’s immense sympathy for the people of Syria.
“We all stand in solidarity with them. Despite the magnitude of our own challenges and the increasing stress on our economy, I reaffirm our Government’s commitment to support and assist the war-affected people of Syria,” he was quoted to have said.