Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday maintained his position that terrorism and insurgency in the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin are fuelled by local runaway fighters from Iraq and Syria and illegal arms acquired from the war in Libya.

Speaking in New York,  while unfolding Nigeria’s position on international matters before the global audience during the opening of the General Debate of the 73rd Session of the United Nation’s General Assembly (UNGA73), Buhari paid glowing tribute to the late UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan for his invaluable contributions to global peace.

“We in Africa, while mourning the loss of this great son of ours and citizen of the world, take pride in the way he served humanity in a truly exemplary manner. He demonstrated, in his calm but determined manner, the virtues of compassion, dedication to the cause of justice, fairness and human rights.

“He was a visionary leader who inspired hope even in the face of the most daunting challenges. He devoted his entire life’s career to the UN and the pursuit of its ideals and goals. The world is indeed a better place, thanks to his exemplary service,” Buhari said.

The president noted that in the past year, the world has witnessed some positive results and encouraging signs from the bilateral and multilateral efforts of the international community to address conflicts, crises and threats to world peace.

While commending the efforts of the leaders of the United States, North Korea and South Korea towards realizing the shared goal of a nuclear free Korean Peninsula, Buhari acknowledged the commitment to peace shown by President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-Un by initiating a historic summit, urging them to continue the positive engagements.

He called on the international community to strengthen its resolve to combat ethnic and religious cleansing across the world, pledging Nigeria’s support for the UN’s efforts in ensuring that the Rohingya refugees are allowed to return to their homes in Myanmar with security, protection, and guarantee of citizenship.

Citing the current peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the commitment towards achieving sustainable peace between Djibouti and Somalia, Buhari said with hard work, commitment and a disposition to compromise and necessary sacrifices, peace was achievable in the Middle East.

Painting a distressing picture of The Lake Chad, which was a major source of livelihood to more than 45 million inhabitants of the region, the president said the shrinking of the lake meant loss of livelihoods as people in the region have now been rendered poor and vulnerable to the activities of extremists and terrorist groups.