Ki Moon commends Nigeria over blast response
By Elizabeth Archibong
September 23, 2011 07:17PM
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The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has expressed appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan and Nigeria for the hospitality, political, material and security support provided to the United Nations staff in the aftermath of the bomb blast at the UN building in Abuja.

Mr Ban was speaking when he received President Jonathan at the UN headquarters.

“You provided full political, material and security support to our staff after the unfortunate incident, and this is very much appreciated by the whole UN family.” He stated,

Mr Ban expressed happiness with President Jonathan’s leadership of the Economic Community of West African States, and the role he played in resolving the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire, his sustained help and support to Liberia and Guinea Bissau.

“Your sustained support for Liberia has been invaluable, and is essential for a peaceful and transparent elections in that country.” He said.

Other issues discussed during the meeting included piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, for which Mr Ban pledged to send an assessment team to the region, the situation in Sudan, and Nigeria’s health bill.

Responding, President Jonathan expressed condolence to the UN family for the attack on the UN building in Abuja, and said progress has been made in the hunt for the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

“Terrorism is new to our security architecture, but our personnel are doing their best, and the perpetrators will be brought to book”, he stated, adding that some of the suspects have already been apprehended.

On the efforts to ensure peaceful elections in Liberia, Mr Jonathan told Mr Ban that ECOWAS would support the UN with police and para-military personnel in the run-up and immediately after the elections, to ensure that the small arms and weapons being controlled by non-state actors are not used to mar the exercise.

President Jonathan said ECOWAS countries are not in a position to provide the funds required for this exercise, and sought the support of the UN.

The Nigerian president acknowledged the challenges of bunkering and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and Nigeria’s efforts to check it, and offered to consult with the actors in the current situation in Sudan. He also explained the issues delaying the signing into law of the Health Bill, and assured that they would be sorted out.


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