Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says Nigeria would have long overcome the Boko Haram insurgency if world powers were not blocking the nation’s efforts to buy vital weapons.
He said it was hypocritical for the world powers to block Nigeria’s access to vital platforms and weapons and then turn around to accuse the nation of not doing enough to end insecurity.
According to The Punch, Mohammed spoke Thursday at a forum organised by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“I want to use this opportunity to say that the international community can help us better than they are doing right now.
“To fight terrorists we need platforms and weapons.
“When the international community is weighed by unsubstantiated arguments to deny the country of vital platforms and weapons to fight insecurity, you cannot turn round to accuse the country of not fighting terrorism,” Mohammed was quoted to have said.
The minister added, “Certain world powers have refused to even sell to us certain vital weapons.
“For more than two to three years now, we have paid for certain vital weapons that they have not released to us and they even refused to give us spare parts.
“I think our appeal to them is that they should please help Nigeria to provide us with these sensitive platforms so that we can fight insecurity more effectively.”
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