"Buhari, Spanish King Discussed Boko Haram Menace at the UN"

The Spanish Government has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari held meeting with King of Spain on various issues of mutual importance, especially on how to end Boko Haram terrorism in the country, during last month’s United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

President Buhari

The Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Alfonso Barnuevo Sebastián de Erice, said this during a press briefing on  an exchange on Spanish-Nigeria relations and the Spanish cultural week celebrated on the occasion of the Spanish National day next week.

Sebastián de Erice who described the meeting as “excellent” on all fronts, said that the two leaders’ discussions centred mainly on how to improve security and economic ties.

He said that apart from the area of strengthening security cooperation on ending Boko Haram terrorism, his country would be supporting President Buhari’s economic policies.

“We aim to strengthen the excellent relations between Spain and Nigeria. These are relations based on friendship, trust and mutual respect, which have been consolidated as the years went by. We see hope in Nigeria. We want to work closely with the new administration of President Buhari. A solid and prosperous Nigeria is also important to Spain. The government of Spain has confidence the economic reforms of President Buhari.

“President Buhari and H. M. the King of Spain held a meeting in New York in September. I can only qualify this meeting as excellent for our relations. What will be my main messages this year.”

Speaking further on Boko Haram menace, the Spanish Ambassador said that his country would be channeling some support and funding to stabilising and rebuilding the terrorism-ravaged North East.

He lauded the new strategy adopted by Buhari administration in dealing with the state of insecurity, which he noted, has been effective so far.

Sebastián de Erice however called for more intelligence driven approach to tackling the menace, while refusing to speak if issuing deadline to ending terrorism by the end of the year was appropriate or not.

He said: “We understand the situation of Nigeria on Boko Haram because we also suffer terrorism. So we are finalising partnership with Nigeria for security. We will always support them in this fight against terrorism.

“We are happy at the great strides Nigeria is making in the field of Peace and Stability and in the fight against Boko Haram. We have seen a clear change of policy from the previous government to the new one. I see that the Boko Haram has been cornered and the speed of the Army is much better. I think everybody is much concerned that the fight against Boko Haram should continue and be dealt with.

“We can deal with this issue through intelligence and need to develop North Eastern Nigeria and through the European Union we have very large programmes and funding for that aspect. We have to also develop the social aspect which will be discussed at the forthcoming EU-African Summit in Malta.”

Speaking further, the Ambassador said that Spain had privileged relations with Nigeria from the economic point of view, which they “consider this relation strategic”.

He disclosed that Spain is “Nigeria’s second best customer in the purchase of petroleum and gas”, adding “we bought in 2014, 6.5 billion Euros, which is 8 per cent of the petroleum products and 12 per cent of the gas consumed in Spain come from Nigerian”.

“We are not only present in the oil sector. We are in the sectors of engineering and construction in the agriculture- food-irrigation sector.  Spain is the 4th biggest economy of the Euro zone, the 5th of the European Union and the 14th in the world. We have the will to strengthen a mutually beneficial economic presence in Nigeria”.

Sebastián de Erice listed Spain as the 11th global investor and the second in South America, adding that “the changes that have occurred in Spain are really impressive, if we take into account that, a little over 20 years ago, Spain was an aid recipient and, today, we are one of the main donor countries”.

-“Our companies are leaders in the sectors of renewable energy, thermal energy; in fashion, banking, construction of hospitals, food industry. We are leading consortia in some of the world’s largest infrastructure projects: high speed train Medina/ La Mecca, the Panama Chanel, or the largest wind farm in Europe. The tourism sector is a must for our economy. Spain comes first in Europe in the number of tourists received.  It is the fourth most visited country in the world.

“Spain is currently the fastest growing country of the European Union, above 4 per cent of the GDP. We are the biggest producer of wind energy in the world. The biggest refinery in Europe is in Turkey and is being constructed by a Spanish company,” he disclosed.

Some of the events listed for the one-week Spanish national day, which is the platform for a series of cultural events include: Painting exhibition based on Barceló and a retrospective of our 10 years painting competition; Playwright represented by the Jos Repertory Theatre sponsored by Nigeria LNG that gives an important literary prize in Nigeria.

"Buhari, Spanish King Discussed Boko Haram Menace at the UN"