President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja urged Germany to support Nigeria’s quest for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.

Buhari made the call at a joint news conference with the visiting President of Germany, Mr Joachim Gauck, after a closed-door meeting.

According to him, Nigeria deserves a permanent seat in the UN Security Council bearing in mind its landmass, population, and position in Africa.

“Outside the bilateral, on the United Nations, Nigeria as an African and an uncommon country thinks that we are qualified by our number, by our size and by our position in Africa maybe to have a permanent seat in the United Nations. We hope Germany will support us.”

Buhari expressed appreciation to the German government for its support and assistance to Nigeria.

He particularly cited the invitation extended to him to address the Group of Seven Industrialised nations (G-7) under the chairmanship of Germany.

He described as ‘very unfortunate’ the bomb attacks on innocent people at the Internally Displaced Camp in Dikwa, Borno, at a time when the German President was on an official visit to Nigeria.

“I have to start with thanking Germany very sincerely for the invitation extended to me when Germany was chairing the G-7, within the week I was sworn in, I was invited and when I went the first point on the agenda was security and security against Boko Haram.

“This showed the genuine concern the G-7 has on the security in Nigeria.

“It is a pity that Boko Haram welcomed you by explosions in Maiduguri that took so many lives.”

He stated that the Nigeria Army and other security agencies had successfully prevented the Boko Haram insurgents from holding any part of the country in the North East states of the country.

He, however, said that the insurgents had resulted to attacking soft targets with improvised devices to inflict maximum casualties.

Buhari also thanked the people and government of Germany for their support during the 2015 presidential election in Nigeria. (NAN)

•State House Photo shows President Buhari discussing with visiting German President Joachim Gauck . . . yesterday at the State House, Abuja.

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