Buhari: Only God Can Effectively Supervise Nigeria-Niger Border

Only God can effectively supervise Nigeria’s border with Niger
Republic, President Muhammadu Buhari said Tuesday.

The president painted the seemingly hopeless situation in the
State House while hosting former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who
chairs ECOWAS Election Mission to Niger Republic.

A statement by the president’s media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina,
said the president applauded Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou,
for not attempting to tamper with his country’s constitution to
elongate his stay in power after serving for a maximum two
terms.

Explaining why the border is difficult to police, the president
disclosed that the border is large, spanning 1,400 kilometres in
size adding that efforts should be made to stabilise the Sahel
region in Nigeria’s interest.

“I come from Daura, few kilometers to 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 kilometers 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,” Buhari said.

The statement added that Nigeria would give a robust support to
Republic of Niger, at its presidential and National Assembly
elections later this month.

It also said Sambo congratulated Buhari on the successful return
of abducted students of Government Science Secondary School,
Kankara, in Katsina State, as well as his 78th birthday, last
week.

According to Adesina, Sambo pledged that ECOWAS would ensure
peaceful and fair elections in Republic of Niger, despite current
political, legal and security issues, adding that meetings were
already being held with relevant stakeholders.

Only God can effectively supervise Nigeria’s border with Niger
Republic, President Muhammadu Buhari said Tuesday.

The president painted the seemingly hopeless situation in the
State House while hosting former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who
chairs ECOWAS Election Mission to Niger Republic.

A statement by the president’s media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina,
said the president applauded Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou,
for not attempting to tamper with his country’s constitution to
elongate his stay in power after serving for a maximum two
terms.

Explaining why the border is difficult to police, the president
disclosed that the border is large, spanning 1,400 kilometres in
size adding that efforts should be made to stabilise the Sahel
region in Nigeria’s interest.

“I come from Daura, few kilometers to 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 kilometers 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,” Buhari said.

The statement added that Nigeria would give a robust support to
Republic of Niger, at its presidential and National Assembly
elections later this month.

It also said Sambo congratulated Buhari on the successful return
of abducted students of Government Science Secondary School,
Kankara, in Katsina State, as well as his 78th birthday, last
week.

According to Adesina, Sambo pledged that ECOWAS would ensure
peaceful and fair elections in Republic of Niger, despite current
political, legal and security issues, adding that meetings were
already being held with relevant stakeholders.