United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, says the UN had called for an additional 351 million dollars as part of the overall 1.1 billion dollars for the humanitarian response plan for Nigeria.

Guterres made this known during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

The UN chief, who was in Borno State on Tuesday, said he was moved by the stories and struggles of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

He said: “Yesterday, I visited Maiduguri where the United Nations is supporting the internally displaced. I was deeply moved by their stories and struggles.

“These include the struggles with hunger, with the World Food Programme projecting 4.1 million people in the North East of Nigeria to be food insecure in the upcoming lean season.

“But despite all they have seen and endured, the people I met remain hopeful and committed to returning to their communities and resuming their lives. To that end, I welcome the establishment of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Returns and Resettlement of Displaced Persons in the North East.

“This spirit of hope amidst hardship – and solidarity in struggle – was also at the centre of my discussions with the Presidency today,” Guterres was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

The UN scribe said discussions with President Buhari also touched on laying groundwork to ensure peaceful and democratic elections in 2023, and the full participation of Nigeria’s women and young people.

Guterres thanked President Buhari for his unwavering support of the Multinational Joint Task Force and the Lake Chad Basin Commission, assuring more commitment from the UN on COVID-19 vaccinations, vulnerability of countries to global warming, global food crises response, and reform of UN Security Council.

READ ALSO: UN Sec-Gen calls for international support for Borno

He said the war in Ukraine would make things worse for global food, energy, and financial systems, adding: “That’s why, in the earliest days of this war, I established the Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy, and Finance, involving all UN Agencies and international financial institutions. The Steering Committee is chaired by Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.”

Speaking, President Buhari said Nigeria remains grateful to the United Nations and some world leaders on their steadfast partnership in fighting terrorism, saying the spotlight on Russia and Ukraine could easily distract from other pertinent global challenges.

Buhari noted that the country and the African continent were already concerned that the attention on Russia and Ukraine would crowd out other issues, but the ongoing visit of the UN scribe clearly showed that “the world has not forgotten us”.

The President said terrorism remains a threat to global peace, security, and progress, with many already killed, while millions had been displaced by the insurgents over many years.

He said: “When we assumed office, the North-East was the major security problem we inherited in 2015, but we have been able to make people understand that you cannot kill people and shout ‘Allahu Akbar,’ (God is great!).

“It is either you don’t know what you are saying or you are simply stupid. God is a God of justice, so you cannot kill people and say God is great. Luckily the people understood our message and it has made great impact.”

President Buhari further told Guterres that the Federal Government had started a gradual, but steady process of resettlement and reintegration where citizens get encouraged to return to their farms, businesses, and other pursuits in life.

The President equally thanked the UN scribe for the maiden visit to Nigeria.

The Star