Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said the effective supervision of the border the country shares with Niger can only be supervised by God.
A statement by a presidential aide Femi Adesina quoted the President as having spoken when he received in audience a former Nigerian Vice President Namadi Sambo, who heads ECOWAS Election Mission to the Republic of Niger.
“We share more than 1,400 kilometers of border with that country, which can only be effectively supervised by God,” the Nigerian leader had said.
In the statement, Adesina quoted the President as promising Nigeria’s robust support to the Republic of Niger, which holds presidential and national assembly elections later this month.
Buhari also hailed President Mahamadou Issoufou, for not attempting to tamper with the Constitution of his country, and elongate his stay in power, after serving for the maximum two terms.
“I come from Daura, a few kilometers 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.
“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.”
According to the statement, Mr. Sambo was quoted as congratulating Buhari on the successful return of abducted schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State, and also his 78th birthday, last week.
By Abel Ejikeme