Buhari assures mutual relations with other countries

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Nigeria will continue to deepen relationships with her allies, particularly those with whom she shares mutually beneficial interests.

He gave the assurance while receiving the outgoing Ambassadors of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and Republic of Turkey at State House, Abuja, Thursday.

He said the core policies of the administration – securing the country, fighting corruption, and reviving the economy – cannot be effectively done without good neighbourliness and deepening of the relationship with allies.

Buhari added: “Security and economic development are crucial to any country, and that was why I visited our immediate neighbours once I got to the office,” President Buhari said while receiving Samia Zekaria Gutu, the outgoing Ambassador of Ethiopia.

“I visited Chad, Niger, Cameroon, and the Benin Republic. You will spend less money on security, and deploy more resources to the infrastructural development when you are on good terms with your neighbours.”

The President congratulated Ethiopia on the political stability that has been attained in the country, after a recent change of the Prime Minister.

He  also offered best wishes to the Ambassador in her new assignment as head of her country’s electoral body, noting that “anything that has to do with the election in developing countries is particularly challenging.”

Ambassador Gutu described Nigeria and Ethiopia as “strategic partners” who have a deep relationship, adding that the three-year stay was a period that saw the furtherance of bilateral relations between the two countries.

During the audience with Hakan Cakil of the Republic of Turkey, President Buhari congratulated the outgoing Ambassador on the close relationship between the two countries and thanked Turkey for academic scholarships granted scores of young Nigerians in recent times.

He also lauded government and private investments in Nigeria in diverse areas like education, medical institutions, and others.

“We value the relationship, we will build further on it,” President Buhari said.

Ambassador Cakil, who was on tour of duty for about three years, noted that Nigeria was his country’s most strategic partner in sub-Saharan Africa.

“I had my first ambassadorial posting here, and I am lucky that during my time, the President of Turkey came here, and the Nigerian President was also in Turkey. I will never forget it,” he stated.

The outgoing Ambassador also wished Nigeria well as it participates at the World Cup tournament in Russia.