UK Foreign Secretary announces Nigeria ministerial meeting in London

LONDON, United-Kingdom, June 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Nigerian Foreign Minister to attend meeting with neighbouring countries in London on 12 June to discuss tackling Boko Haram.

The Foreign Secretary William Hague will host the London Ministerial on Security in Northern Nigeria on 12 June in the margins of the World Summit on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict. This will bring together Nigeria, represented by its Foreign Minister, its neighbours Benin, Chad, Cameroon and Niger with the UK, US, France, Canada and the EU to continue the coordination necessary to defeat Boko Haram. It follows the Paris summit on Boko Haram on 17 May. As well as taking forward agreements made in Paris, the meeting will consider what can be more done both to improve regional coordination, and on economic and social development to counter the threat of Boko Haram.

The Foreign Secretary said:

“Since the appalling abductions of over 200 school girls in Chibok by Boko Haram, the international community has worked together closely to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

“We have already reached agreements on intelligence sharing; coordinated border patrols; developing a regional Counter Terrorism strategy; and wider action, including supporting the victims of sexual violence and the empowerment of women and girls. This coordinated action has sent a powerful message of intent.

“The London Ministerial on Security in Northern Nigeria will build on these agreements and consider further options to combat terrorism in Northern Nigeria. This shows the determination of those in the region, with the support of the international community, to defeat Boko Haram. We continue to work through our close international coordination on the ground in Nigeria to help secure the release of the abducted school girls.

“It is appropriate that this meeting is taking place within the Summit I’m hosting on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict. The appalling abduction of the Nigerian school girls underlines the dreadful risk posed to women and girls in conflict and why we are mobilising the world to tackle sexual violence in conflict.”

The Prime Minister said today at a joint press conference with Barak Obama at the G7 meeting in Brussels:

“In the longer term, we stand ready to provide more practical assistance to help the Nigerians and the region to strengthen their defence and security institutions and to develop the expertise needed to counter these barbaric extremists.”