The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Friday, July 29, pleaded with the United Nations, UN, to reconsider and lift its suspension on humanitarians aide placed on Nigeria, following the UN’s convoy attack by the dredged Boko Haram terrorists, while travelling to Bama, Borno State.
It could be recalled, that on Thursday, July 28, a UN convoy carrying humanitarian aid workers, were ambushed by the Boko Haram terrorists.
Although, the terrorists were overwhelmed by the Nigerian Army, the attacks on the UN officials and soldiers, came four days after personnel of Medicins Sans Frontier, MSF, narrowly escaped being killed by land mines, some few kilometres from where the ambush attack was carried out.
Related: Terror As Nigeria Army Suffers Setback Against Boko Haram
The Senate President, in a press statement made available to Post-Nigeria, condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms, stating that it was unacceptable to endanger the lives of aid workers, who were only trying to assuage the situation in the North-East.
He said, “This unfortunate situation has led to the United Nation’s temporarily suspending its rehabilitation-related aid deliveries to parts of the North-East.
“This is a major cause for concern, as overtime, the Nigerian military has recorded significant successes in routing the insurgency, and many foreign donor agencies have expressed their preparedness to join in the North-East restoration efforts”.
While calling for an immediate review of the security situation in the North-East by the relevant authorities, he stated that it was necessary to alleviate the concerns of international partners, who are set to help rebuild the crisis-torn areas.
Saraki added, “I also urge our military, the Department of State Security and the Police, to commence an immediate security re-evaluation, and review of the entire North-East zone, in order to allay the fears of our donour partners.
“The partners are important to Nigeria’s work to re-position the North-East after months of decimation at the hands of Boko Haram”.
He also charged the Presidential Initiative for the North-East, PINE, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, and other relevant agencies, to immediately address the shortfall that will arise from the cessation of donations of food and medicines.
“Effective action must be taken in the interim. We need to make sure that no lives are lost, due to the temporary suspension of UN aid”, Saraki said.
Speaking further, he called on the UN to resume its activities in North-East as soon as possible, while reassuring Nigerians and the international community, that the Senate would fast-track the passage of the North-East Development Commission, NEDC, Bill, which aims to create a legislative framework and multi-state platform for the coordination of relief and donations to the zone.
Recall, that Saraki had on July 18, led a delegation to Maiduguri, where he pledged the Senate’s support in addressing issues of malnutrition and shortage of medical supplies to the region.
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