President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed appreciation for the military hardware received from Jordan at the ongoing 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
King Abdullah II of Jordan, on Wednesday, donated 200 Armoured Fighting Vehicles to combat terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria and pledges to also supply helicopters.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari expressed gratitude and described the donations as the country’s “true concern for Nigeria’s security situation and genuine goodwill towards a friendly nation”.
President Buhari reassured King Abdullah II of Nigeria’s commitment towards the proposed Aqaba Process with countries in the region as well as Nigeria’s willingness to play a leading role in bringing together countries in the West African sub-region into this collective security arrangement.
The President also pledged Nigeria’s continued desire for enhanced bilateral ties with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
The Jordan King had informed the President earlier that the Kingdom would be opening an Embassy in Nigeria and also show appreciation to the country for its support. He said his National Security Adviser would soon be working out the finer details of the Aqaba Process with his Nigerian counterpart.
Soon after President Buhari took over office in 2015, the Jordanian King had offered a hand of friendship, cooperation and support for Nigeria in its fight against terrorism and insurgency. This resulted in the National Security Adviser undertaking two visits to Jordan to follow up on issues previously discussed with the King, and the donation of military hardware and pledge of further support.
These gestures are aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s operational capabilities in the fight against terror both within the country and the Lake Chad Basin which affects neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger where the Multinational Joint Task Force is engaging the Boko Haram insurgents and terrorists.
“The National Security Adviser’s second trip to Jordan on the invitation of the King in January 2016 to attend the 3rd Aqaba Process, also resulted in a renewed commitment between the two countries to consider multilateral action in confronting the menace of terrorism by replicating the Aqaba arrangement which the Kingdom of Jordan has with East African countries battling protracted terrorist menace. The statement said.
Nigeria has agreed to work with countries in the region on a similar arrangement with Jordan. It is anticipated that the first Aqaba Process for Nigeria and sister countries within the sub-region with Jordan will be held in late November or early December 2017.
