President Muhammadu Buhari has been awarded the highest national award of Niger Republic, Grand Croix Des Ordre National Du Niger, by President Mahamadou Issoufou.
The president was conferred with the honour on Tuesday in Abuja when he received the outgoing President Issoufou.
Buhari also congratulated 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.
“Mr. President, let me start by congratulating you on the successful completion of your second term as President of our sister country, the Republic of Niger. I also congratulate the good people of Niger for the successful conduct of a free, fair and credible election,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesman Femi Adesina.
“The achievements during your tenure as President have been widely acclaimed including through your recent award of the Mo Ibrahim Prize. You have earned the respect and affection of your people at home and your brethren across the border in Nigeria.”
Buhari said his first visit after swearing-in in 2015 was to Niger Republic, noting that the choice of a neighbouring country underscored the value and quality of relations between both countries.
He further said the cultural similarity between both countries, which include common languages such as Hausa, Kanuri and Fulfude and a common border of 1,500 kilometres, further strengthened good relations, adding that Nigeria and Niger “refused to be divided and alienated by the artificial borders imposed by the former colonial powers.’’
He said the emergence of President Issoufou in 2011 marked a watershed in the relationship between the two countries as the frontier of cooperation expanded and mutual trust further strengthened, while congratulating President-elect Mohamed Bazoum for winning the elections.
The Nigerien President said the highest national award of his country was bestowed on Buhari because of his “fraternity, vigour, patriotism and determination to move Africa forward, starting from the West Coast.’’
