24th May, 2017
President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called on the European Union (EU) and other donor agencies to increase support for solution to humanitarian crisis in the North-East.
Saraki made the call when Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, a group in the European Parliament, led by Pittella Gianni, visited him in Abuja on Wednesday.
A statement by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Mr Chuks Okocha, said that Saraki was represented by the Leader of the Senate, Alhaji Ahmed Lawan.
He commended the EU for its support to Nigeria so far, but said that more assistance was needed to feed and resettle scores of displaced persons in the camps in the North-East.
“The Boko Haram insurgency started around 2009; we have been able to receive a lot of support from EU in fighting the Boko Haram and to our delight, and the situation has improved from what it was in 2014 and 2015.
“What we are battling with now is the humanitarian situation caused by the insurgency.
“The situation is a sad one; millions of our people are displaced.
“What we are battling with today is to get these people back to their respective communities and also to ensure that we provide sustenance for them and fix other challenges,” he said.
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He urged the EU to step up support and give more especially in terms of security.
Saraki also solicited the EU parliament’s support to combat illegal migration and terrorism as well as to strengthen the rule of law and good governance in the country.
He told the parliamentarians that the present administration was determined to enthrone strong democratic institutions with a view to improving on rule of law and good governance.
Earlier, the President of the group, Gianni, said that the EU parliament shared in the pain of Nigeria as a nation.
He assured that the parliament would contribute to combat illegal migration through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the economy.