Kano-Maradi rail line will integrate Nigeria, Niger economies ― President Bazoum

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3 years ago

President Mohamed Bazoum of the Niger Republic on a State visit to Nigeria has affirmed that the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway line being undertaken by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will integrate the economies of the two countries when operational.

Speaking to correspondents after his meeting with the Nigerian president at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, he expressed the hope that the implementation of the project will be sustained.

The visit enabled the two leaders to deliberate on how to tackle challenges of security and strategic stability affecting the sub-region and the globe.

Bazoum also thanked President Buhari for funding the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) operation ongoing in the Lake Chad region meant to tackle the security challenges faced by both neighbouring countries.

Explaining his mission in Nigeria, Bazoum said: “It’s my pleasure to be here today and I want to say thank you very much to President Muhammadu Buhari and then thank him from the bottom of my heart for the hospitality and for the warm reception that myself and my delegation have benefitted since we arrived.

“Happy to be here and have discussions with President Buhari on issues that relate to the economy and the security situation in our countries in a manner that we push these issues to be of mutual benefit to both countries, Niger and Nigeria.

“My visit coincides with the very big operation that is taking place jointly today in the Lake Chad Basin region against the terrorist and this big operation is being conducted by MNJTF (Multinational Joint Task Force). And as you will know very well, the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force are funded almost entirely by Nigeria. And this operation is meant to help in providing security challenges that both of our countries are facing.

“I want to reiterate my recommendation and thanks to President Buhari, who because of his support this operation is going on and will very much continue in future

“On economic issues, we discussed the Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project and this project is an infrastructure that will integrate the economies, the economies of Nigeria and Niger. And so I’m here to thank President Buhari, for his effort at ensuring that this project has taken off and I hope that it will be sustained because this project will radically change the trading exchange between the two countries.

“We also spoke about the gas pipeline in the sense that gas and oil now have become an issue in world politics, in the world economy.”

The Nigerien president noted that the MNJTF is a model along with the outfits of countries that are facing the same kind of security challenges, adding, “we want to replicate this kind of model in countries of the Sahel, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and so on will replicate this kind of model.

“Why? Because this model has allowed us in the Lake Basin region to address common threats and we are very much satisfied with the situation because it has allowed us contained it and we want to rep, I care same in our countries.”

He further said: “Maybe let’s say if Nigeria accepts to do the same in the northwest in the fight against insurgency, we will gladly accept because as you know, Nigeria almost entirely funds the operations and if Nigeria decides to do the same in the northwest axis, we will be very happy because that means it will reduce the economic and financial burden of the fight against insurgents.

“Now, we have a lot of cooperation between the two countries, I must also greet and encourage here the efforts being pursued but the governor of Zamfara state and also what happened recently just a couple of days ago in Kaduna, indicate that there is an increased change in the level of threats we have faced and which means that we have to design a new strategy to be able to address these threats.”

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