PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES HIGHEST NIGER REPUBLIC AWARD, CONGRATULATES OUTGOING PRESIDENT MAHAMADOU ISSOUFOU ON MO IBRAHIM PRIZE
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja congratulated outgoing President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou, for successful completion of his second tenure, and wining the prestigious 2020 Mo Ibrahim prize for Achievement in African Leadership, describing him as a worthy African leader.
President Buhari, who was awarded the highest national award of Niger Republic, Grand Croix Des Ordre National Du Niger, by President Issoufou, felicitated with the outgoing leader for upholding the tenets of democracy, improving the economy of his country and consolidating the good relations that existed between both countries.
“Mr. President, allow me start via congratulating you at the a hit completion of your 2d time period as President of our sister us of a, the Republic of Niger. I additionally congratulate the coolest humans of Niger for the a success conduct of a unfastened, fair and credible election.
“The achievements at some point of your tenure as President were extensively acclaimed together with through your current award of the Mo Ibrahim Prize. You have earned the respect and affection of your humans at home and your brethren throughout the border in Nigeria,’’ he said.
President Buhari said his first visit after swearing-in in 2015 become to Niger Republic, noting that the selection of a neighbouring country underscored the fee and first-class of members of the family among each international locations.
“Nigeria-Niger family members are based totally on an extended not unusual border and shared cultural and historic roots. Relations among the 2 international locations have, over the years, been very cordial and fraternal. There is a spirit of exact neighbourliness among us.
“Nigeria's borders with Niger have constantly been largely non violent. There have been no severe border conflicts between the two international locations.
“Each usa has primarily based its diplomatic relations upon non-interference within the internal affairs of the opposite. It is consequently pleasing to nation that Niger has remained one of the most relied on and reliable neighbours of Nigeria,’’ the President brought.
President Buhari said the cultural similarity between both nations, which encompass commonplace languages consisting of Hausa, Kanuri and Fulfude and a commonplace border of one thousand five hundred (1500) kilometres, similarly bolstered proper family members, including that Nigeria and Niger “refused to be divided and alienated by the artificial borders imposed via the former colonial powers.’’
He said the emergence of President Issoufou in 2011 marked a watershed in the relationship among the 2 nations because the frontier of cooperation elevated and mutual agree with in addition strengthened, whilst congratulating the President-pick, Mohamed Bazoum, for prevailing the elections.
President Buhari urged the President-select of Niger to build on the achievements of his predecessor in office.
“Many landmark projects had been initiated and effectively done, amongst which turned into the successful border re-demarcation workout without any incident. The socio-financial partnership resulted inside the floor-breaking ceremony of a railway undertaking from the North West of Nigeria to Maradi in Niger, that's in furtherance of regional and continental integration, joint mission and inter-kingdom exchange.
“The navy cooperation that has availed the Nigerian Intelligence community facts on the activities of terrorists is additional proof of this cohesion. It was against this backdrop that Niger agreed to end up a part of the multinational attempt to address insurgents' sports across the borders of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad Republics.
“As you know, this culminated inside the established order of the Multi-National Joint Task Force under the auspices of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, with Sector 4 primarily based in Diffa, Republic of Niger,’’ he said.
President Buhari also said a number of Nigeria’s prestigious navy institutions like Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji and National War College, Abuja, and the Police Academy in Gwoza and Kano have provided schooling for the security officers of the neigbouring us of a.
In his remarks, President Issoufou thanked President Buhari and all Nigerians for the assist he acquired as chief of his u . S . For ten years, specifically in the course of his time as Chairman of ECOWAS, describing Nigeria as a “2d domestic’’.
The Nigerien President stated the best country wide award of his united states of america become bestowed on President Buhari due to his “fraternity, vigor, patriotism and backbone to move Africa ahead, starting from the West Coast.’’
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the Nigerien President distinguished himself in leadership at each country wide and regional levels, leaving a legacy of avoiding the lure of altering the charter to prolong his stay in workplace.
Onyeama stated the Mo Ibrahim award changed into most deserved.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 16, 2021
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