Boko Haram: We’re making progress in de-radicalization process, Says President Buhari; Calls on warring leaders in South Sudan to honour peace agreement

President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that advances being made against Boko Haram insurgents go beyond degradation through just force of arms.
Speaking at a bilateral meeting with President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Monday in New York, on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Buhari said, “the de-radicalization process is also going on, and we are achieving some measure of success. Even suicide bombing is becoming rare, as the local people are themselves rejecting indoctrination by the insurgents.”
The President, according to a statement by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity), assured existing and potential investors in Nigeria of adequate protection of their lives, investments and property, as the security situation in Nigeria is now very much better and conducive.
President Buhari said Nigeria was working hard to diversify the economy and expressed willingness to collaborate with South African businessmen especially in the areas of mining and agriculture, for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
In his remarks, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa recollected his visit to Nigeria earlier this year which he described as “very successful.” He added that he was interested in the promotion of economic and trade partnerships between the two countries.
At another bilateral meeting with President Macky Sall of Senegal, both President Buhari and the Senegalese President expressed their happiness at the good cropping season being experienced in their countries as it portends bumper harvests which will ultimately translate into an enhancement of the quality of lives of their people.
The two Presidents also reviewed the situation in Guinea Bissau and concluded that political leaders in the country need to make sacrifices to guarantee peace and development of the country.
Speaking at the meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the Situation in South Sudan, held on the sidelines of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71), in New York on Monday, President Buhari called on leaders of parties to the lingering conflict in South Sudan to honour the terms of the August 2015 Peace Agreement signed by them. He described the unconditional implementation of the Agreement as the “cornerstone of peace and reconciliation” in that country.
He noted that whatever reservations that may exist against it “should under no circumstances be the pretext for failure to implement the Agreement.”
According to President Buhari, “it is regrettable that lack of unity and political progress” in South Sudan has remained a major obstacle to peace, stressing that “Africa and indeed the entire world had high hopes and expectations for South Sudan as an independent nation.”
He noted that recurrent conflict and political instability with grave human rights and humanitarian consequences have overshadowed any progress that might have been made towards South Sudan’s development.
In order to strengthen the peace process in the beleaguered East-Central African nation and newest member-state of the United Nations, President Buhari also stressed the need for stronger cooperation among the United Nations, the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority for Development and other stakeholders for the immediate deployment of the Regional Protection Force in South Sudan, as mandated by Security Council Resolution 2304.
He condemned in strong terms crimes against civilians of all ethnic groups and political parties and attacks on United Nations Mission personnel as well as local and international aid workers in South Sudan, noting that perpetrators of such heinous crimes “must not be allowed to go unpunished.”