The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, commissioned a boulevard named after him in Niger Republic.
Buhari arrived Niamey for a 2-day African Union Summit and the Extraordinary Session on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The President used the occasion of the summit to the ‘Muhammadu Buhari Boulevard,’ named after him by the Republic of Niger government.
In a statement on Thursday evening, Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu said the gesture bestowed on President Buhari was an indication of the tremendous respect that Niger Republic has towards him.
Shehu said the President of Niger Republic, Mohammed Bazoun, accompanied by the Mayor of Niamey and other officials, took Buhari on a tour of the 3.8-kilometer boulevard.
He said Buhari had on assumption of office in 2015, opened up strong dialogue with neighbouring Niger, Benin, Chad, and Cameroon, an approach, which had resulted in positive diplomatic ties of mutual interest to both countries.
Shehu asserted that the President expressed satisfaction with the existing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and its neigbours, adding that such ties had helped tremendously, especially in the areas of tackling border insecurity, illegal arms import, and smuggling.
He said: ”President Buhari has a strong respect for our neigbours, and he understands the essence of good neigbourliness.
”Before this administration, some of these countries complained that they were not even being talked to by Nigerian leadership. We have opened up a dialogue with them and it is paying off.
”We are partnering with them on essential matters, especially on security, tackling smuggling, and importation of illegal weapons, so the partnership is complete.
“President Buhari would be leaving behind a solid relationship, built on a solid rock with Nigeria’s neighbours and expected to be built upon by his successor.”
On the President’s delegation are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Defence, Major-Gen. Bashir Magashi (rtd), Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo.
Other top government officials include the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd) and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.
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