By DAVID IORJA, Abuja –
“We will stabilize our region for the benefit of the two countries,” President Muhammadu Buhari assured his Niger Republic counterpart, Mohamed Bazoum, on Monday.
The newly inaugurated President of neighbouring Niger Republic was in Nigeria on his first international visit.
President Buhari said Nigerians and Nigeriens are people with similar culture, language and ways of life, “and we also share about 1,500 kilometres of land border, so we cannot ignore each other.”
The President congratulated Bazoum on winning the recent presidential election, and his successful inauguration into office.
Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), also quoted Buhari as saying: “You have been in the system for a long time. The only thing is that you had never been President. Now you are one,” the host President said, assuring that Nigeria would assist its close neighbour in diverse ways as required.
On terrorism, as perpetrated by Boko Haram, President Buhari observed that Republic of Niger also suffers high casualties, vowing; “We will do all it takes to secure our two countries.”
President Buhari was thankful to the immediate past President, Mahamadou Issoufou, for what he calls “his understanding and sacrifices” to help stabilize the region, urging the successor to maintain the institutions his predecessor had established.
President Bazoum said he was delighted to make Nigeria his first port of call, noting that the two countries have common interests, “and, therefore, a good relationship is very important.
”On security, he observed that the fact that some Nigerians flee to Niger during terrorist attacks “shows that we need to cooperate, and we will face our challenges together.”