JUST IN: President Buhari meets with Ban Ki-Moon

The Buhari‎ administration has faced heavy criticisms for its inability to secure the release of the girls.

Buhari’s request for United Nations intermediaries is a “show of commitment” made to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday on the sidelines of the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders in NY, said a statement from presidential adviser Femi Adesina. He reiterated his earlier stance that it was hard identifying the credible leadership of the sect.

Buhari told Ban that his government is “willing to bend over backwards” to win the girls’ freedom but finding credible Boko Haram leaders for the negotiations has been hard, especially because of the current leadership struggle among the militants.

Consequently, President Buhari thanked America for the support rendered in the area of security as President Obama further reassured Nigeria of his commitment to defeating Boko Haram as this would help ramp up production of oil and increase revenue. “Government had reached out, ready to negotiate, but it became hard to identify credible leaders”, said the president.

Buhari, in a statement by his special adviser media, Femi Adesina, also disclosed that advances being made against Boko Haram insurgents go beyond degradation through just force of arms.

He further declared that the United Nations recognised President Buhari’s government’s achievements against the Boko Haram insurgents.

The President added that the priority investment sectors for his administration now were improving infrastructure, industrial productivity, agriculture, mining and digital economy, where “young Nigerians are increasingly demonstrating that they have the talent and the passion to leverage”.

Ban Ki-Moon has commended President Buhari for his war against graft and terrorism.

Also on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari and other world leaders adopted the New York Declaration for refugees and migrants. “Your persona has given your country a positive image”, Ki-Moon declared.

Buhari said Nigeria would soon become one of the most attractive places to invest in as his administration had embarked on significant economic reforms to realise that goal.