Buhari: Nigeria stands in solidarity with Syria

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the global community to give greater support to countries whose populace are suffering humanitarian crises caused by terrorism and civil strife.
A statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said Buhari was speaking at the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference in London.
Buhari said that without collective support and assistance from all well-meaning countries, companies and organisations, the humanitarian catastrophe affecting millions of people in countries like Nigeria and Syria could not be successfully addressed.
He noted that the increasingly complex and inter-connected security challenges faced by the global community necessitated increased international cooperation in pursuit of effective solutions.
The President strongly condemned the continuing violence by terrorists against innocent civilians, abuse of human rights and destruction of public and private assets and cultural heritages in Nigeria, Syria and other countries of the world.
According to him, having experienced civil war and terrorist insurgency, Nigeria understands the pains inflicted on the people of Syria and the hardship that innocent civilians suffer in the hands of misguided elements.
Buhari called on all parties involved in the Syrian conflict to seek a peaceful resolution, saying that only a political solution could bring the ongoing tragedy in the country to an end.
He expressed Nigeria’s immense sympathy for the people of Syria.
“We all stand in solidarity with them. Despite the magnitude of our own challenges and the increasing stress on our economy, I reaffirm our government’s commitment to support and assist the war-affected people of Syria,’’ he said.
The statement noted that participants at the conference included the British Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki Moon.
King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the High Representative of the European Union, Federica Mogherini also attended the conference.
Others were the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr Peter Maurer, the President of the World Bank, Dr Jim Yong Kim and the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Helen Clark.