Niger Republic hails Buhari, says trans-border peace policy model for Africa 

The government of Niger Republic has thumbed up President Muhammadu Buhari’s proactive initiatives and endeavours which have resulted to a stable sub-regional and continental trans-border relationships.

The Nigerien government said, Tuesday, in Abuja at the Nigeria-Niger Republic Joint Committees (NNJC) meeting, that Buhari’s commitment to careful implementation of bilateral agreements aimed at fostering harmonious trans-border relationship have been a model.

Permanent Secretary Niger Republic National Commission, and leader of the delegation, Dr Bala Pate, said the Nigerian government’s deliberate implementation of the many bilateral agreements between both countries since 1984 has ensured that the Niger Republic – Nigeria border one of the longest in Africa, the only boundary that has not experienced arms conflicts.

“The Niger Republic -Nigeria boundary is 1500km, the longest in Africa, but it remains the only of such boundaries that has never experienced arms conflicts between the border dwellers necessitating the intervention of either ECOWAS or the African Union,” he said.

According to him, Buhari’s support, together with development partners, has enabled the members of the technical experts to making meaningful progress in the implementation of several resolutions agreed upon at the joint meetings of the two countries.

The Nigerien government particularly lauded “the Buhari-led government for launching the $80m fund for programme for regional transformation”, saying its government was equally making effort to follow suit.

Pate said regular meetings to review agreements and progress of implementations have created dynamic platform for peaceful repair and placements of Pillars along the border lines and ultimately demarcation of the boundary between both countries.

He noted that so far ,129 pillars out of 148, have been placed, while 679 intermediary pillars out of 3700 of such have been placed without interferences by communities, stressing that these represent reasonable progress.

However, he said there were pending issues in 12 communities; six in Niger Republic, two in Nigerian and two in Benin Republic, respectively.

He assured Nigeria of the support and cooperation of the Nigerien government in whatever may be required to endure peaceful demarcation of boundaries among the border dwellers.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Boundary Commission, Surveyor Adamu Adaji, has pledged Nigeria’s determination to foster harmonious cross-border relationship,  noting that good fences make good neighbours.

The three- day event is being attended by delegates from Niger Republic, officials of the NNJC, the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).