President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday explained why it is difficult for the country to man the Nigerian border with the Niger Republic.
The President said this while receiving the former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, who is the Head of ECOWAS Election Mission to Niger Republic.
According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari said only God could effectively “supervise” Nigeria’s border with Niger Republic.
The President was speaking concerning the insecurity and influx of bandits into the country from Niger Republic and other neighboring countries. Recall that two weeks ago, more than 300 schoolboys were kidnapped in Kankara, Katsina State.
The statement from Adesina is titled, ‘President Buhari pledges support for polls in the Republic of Niger, describes outgoing President as ‘very decent man,’
According to the statement, Buhari said, “I come from Daura, few kilometres to the Republic of Niger, so I should know a bit about that country.
“The President is quite decent, and we are regularly in touch. He is sticking to the maximum term prescribed by the constitution of his country.
“Also, we share more than 1,400 kilometres of border with that country, which can only be effectively supervised by God.
“I will speak with the President, and offer his country our support. We need to do all we can to help stabilise the Sahel region, which is also in our own interest.”
Also, the President was reported to have applauded President Mahamadou Issoufou for not attempting to touch the constitution of the country and elongating his tenure in power, after serving for a maximum of two terms.
The statement added that Sambo congratulated Buhari on the successful return of the abducted schoolboys from Government Senior Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State, as well as his 78th birthday last week.
He pledged that ECOWAS would ensure peaceful and fair elections in the Republic of Niger, despite current political, legal, and security issues.
