Nigeria is facing extraordinary security challenges — US

United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has described the security challenges facing Nigeria as extraordinary. 

He stated this during a virtual roundtable with Kenyan and Nigerian journalists. 

According to Vanguard, he said, “It is fair to say that the challenges that Nigeria faces, when it comes to security, are quite extraordinary — and you referenced them — whether it’s terrorism, whether it’s banditry and criminality, whether it’s piracy. All of these are real challenges. 

One, we are in absolute solidarity between us in trying to address these challenges together. And the United States is committed to supporting Nigeria as it meets these challenges. And what that involves primarily is helping Nigeria continue to build its capacity through training, through resources, through information sharing, through equipment, and all of that done, very importantly, with full respect for human rights. 

But it’s also important that we work together, as we are, to address some of the drivers or facilitators of violence and instability that we know those engaged in these activities can sometimes feed on. And that’s why you have to have a comprehensive approach to these challenges. 

Military approach is vitally important, but it’s insufficient, and so economic development, progress, opportunity is hugely important.”