Buhari Warns Western Nations Against Travel Advisories On Nigeria

Buhari Warns Western Nations Against Travel Advisories On Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned Western nations not to issue travel warnings for Nigeria.

The President delivered the warning during an interactive session co-hosted by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the International Republican Institute, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

On Saturday, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President recalled how Nigeria had battled insurgents and other non-state actors threatening its cohesion and peace, resulting in some countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, warning their citizens against non-essential travel to Nigeria.

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“This steady progress is in spite of the negative reportage in international media as well as the nonchalant actions and attitudes of some of our friends and allies to sufficiently appreciate our efforts in the fight against terrorism.

“Rather than focus on negativity, which is what travel advisories have become, Nigeria, the sub-regions of Africa and the rest of the world can work more concertedly together to combat terrorism and prevent violent extremism, both of which are challenges to global peace and stability and not just Nigeria and Africa alone.”

Despite these attitudes from Nigeria’s friends and allies, the President stated that the country was willing to collaborate with the international community and other development partners to improve global security and stability.

He urged the US to do more to improve the quality of governance in the West African sub-region, warning that democracy’s survival was under threat in the aftermath of recent democratic setbacks in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.

The President also emphasized the benefits of Nigeria’s investments in agriculture, infrastructure, security, and democracy while he was in office.

He claimed that in the last seven and a half years of his presidency, Nigeria’s agricultural revolution created over 13 million direct and indirect jobs.

The President stated that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s interventions in the agriculture sector transitioned the country from being a net importer of rice, Nigeria’s staple food, to becoming self-sufficient in production.

“This same scheme has financed the establishment and operations of our 50 integrated rice mills. It has also financed over 4.5 million smallholder farmers, ensured the cultivation of almost six million hectares of farmland, and almost 700 large-scale agricultural projects have been funded.”

The President also used the occasion to urge Western countries not to rush to phase out the use of fossil fuels in order to maintain a healthy climate.

He recalled that, as a member of the global community, Nigeria took part in several rounds of climate change talks and various decisions resulting from COP26 and the recent COP27.

“But as I stated in my Washington Post article, there can’t be double standards, wherein Western nations use their influence and weight to turn the taps off global financing for fossil fuel transactions which are much needed by developing nations, yet when they feel the pinch, they are quick to turn on their coal-powered plants.

“We owe it to our people to create jobs and livelihoods, and we can’t accomplish this without maximizing our comparative advantage in energy to build up our manufacturing and industrial base.

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“Therefore, stronger commitment needs to be made to the fund for climate adaptation and mitigation, if indeed there is intent to establish equity and fairness.”

Speaking about the 2023 elections, the President reaffirmed his commitment to holding free, fair, and transparent elections, the results of which would be widely accepted by the candidates.