Military option alone can’t win terror war – Joe Biden

US Vice President Joe Biden

United States of America’s Vice President, Joe Biden, on Monday told President Muhammadu Buhari, that Nigeria cannot achieve victory in its terror war through military option only.
He said for the war against the Boko Haram sect, that has killed thousands of people in the North Eastern part of the country to be won, Buhari must combine military option with strong socio-economic support programmes.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, quoted Biden as giving the advice during a breakfast meeting he had with Buhari, in his official residence, Naval Observatory.
The President is currently on a four-day official visit to the US.
Adesina said the meeting afforded the two leaders an opportunity to compare notes on the terror war.

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“At the meeting, which held at the Naval Observatory, official residence of the American Vice President, Biden shared with his guest what the US had learnt from the terror war, counseling that victory cannot come from military option alone.
“Military option must be combined with strong socio-economic support programmes, VP Biden said, promising that the US would work with Nigeria in that direction,” the statement read in part.
Biden was further quoted as assuring Buhari of the goodwill of the US in rebuilding the Nigerian economy.
He however said corruption and weak institutions must be tackled if Nigeria was to benefit from reforms.
He added that seasoned technocrats must manage key sectors of the Nigerian economy, and only then would investors be attracted to the country.
The American Vice-President congratulated President Buhari on his victory at the March 2015 elections, adding that it was obvious that the President enjoys the confidence of the Nigerian people.
Responding, Buhari was said to have thanked the US for standing by Nigeria in the run up to general elections early this year.
He noted that the visit of the Secretary of State, John Kerry, was critical as it sent home the message that America would not brook the subversion of the people’s will.
“On oil theft, the Nigerian President estimated losses at between $10bn and $20bn, stressing that such income could have been deployed with salutary impact on various spheres of national life like education and healthcare, among others,” the statement added.
Both America and Nigeria were said to have pledged renewed commitment to work as partners at the meeting.