Buhari seeks restructuring of Non-Aligned Movement

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the 120-nation Cold War-era bloc known as the NonAligned Movement (NAM) needs to be restructured for it to retain its relevance.

Speaking at the 17th summit of NAM in Margarita, Venezuela, Buhari said it was essential that the organisation found a role for itself in addressing the challenges of global terrorism.

Founded in Belgrade in 1961, Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states which are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc.

“Nigeria is of the view that our organisation needs to urgently reinvent itself so that it can more effectively address the challenges of our time and reposition itself for the future. If organisations that came into being in similar historical circumstances as the Non-Aligned Movement could adapt to the changing realities of their existence and still stay focused, there is no reason why our movement cannot do the same in a credible and beneficial manner,” he said.

According to the president, the situation in some other parts of the world such as Libya, Iraq and Syria has also continued to be a major concern, urging support for the peace process in those countries.

Buhari said the summit provided great opportunity for the movement to place the priority and concerns of the developing countries on the global agenda.

He therefore expressed Nigeria’s satisfaction with the synergy between the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, African Union Agenda 2063 and Addis Ababa Action Plan. He however said this must be taken to the level of implementation for the partnership to be meaningful.

On refugees and irregular migrants, Buhari said world leaders must realise that simply shutting borders would not shut out the problems, but providing them with a responsible livelihood would help avert the desperation that precipitates several migratory movements in search of imaginary greener pasture.