Archbishop of Canterbury urges Buhari to find solutions to Nigeria's challenges as he presents him with book

ARCHBISHOP of Canterbury Rt Reverend Justin Welby has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari has reassured him that his government is focusing on resolving the complex security situation in Nigeria.

Yesterday, President Buhari, who is in London for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit and to seek medical attention, paid a courtesy call on his friend the archbishop. During the meeting, Archbishop Welby handed the president with a copy of his new book titled Reimagining Britain: Foundations For Hope.

Revealing the details of the discussion on his Facebook page, the archbishop posted a photograph showing him presenting a copy of the book to President Buhari. Over recent years, the two men have built up a friendship and whenever President Buhari is in the UK, he always has an audience with the archbishop.

Archbishop Welby said: "It was an honour to meet President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria in London today. We discussed the complex security situation in Nigeria and their government’s efforts to address it and I offered support in seeking a sustainable solution to the herder-farmer conflict.

"I expressed deep concern about the suffering resulting from raids on Christian communities and villages as far south as Delta State. We discussed the causes of such depredations, which have led to very many deaths and threaten an escalation of violence and I urged measures to restore confidence in the neutrality of the state and spoke of the suffering of the poor in such tragedies."

He added that he also raised the urgent situation of Leah Sharibu, the 14-year old Dapchi Christian school girl still held captive by Boko Haram for refusing to convert to Islam. Archbishop Welby urged President Buhari to do everything possible to secure her release from captivity.

Archbishop Welby added: "I briefed President Buhari about my pastoral visit to Nigeria in 2014 following the abduction of the Chibok girls and assured him of my continued prayers for the release of all those still in captivity. The president promised that the government would do all in its power to secure their release.

"No country or society can flourish without excellent education, so it was good to speak with the president about how education helps tackle poverty. I highlighted the vital role that churches in England play not just in educating a million children but in providing them with values, identity and purpose."

Appealing to the members of the Church of England, the archbishop asked then to please join him in standing prayerfully with those suffering from the herder-farmer conflict, the Boko Haram insurgency and all those mourning the loss of loved ones. He added that it is so important that they pray for the peace and progress of Nigeria and particularly for the liberating peace of Jesus to be with all those held in captivity.