Buhari to Benin president: We’ll continue to work with our neighbours

Nigeria will continue to work with its neighbourson the importance of good neighbourliness, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

He made the remarks while speaking with the President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, who visited him in Abuja on Tuesday.

Buhari said, “Good neighbourliness is very important in our lives. The survival of your neighbour is also your own, and we will continue to work with our neighbours in the light of this understanding.”

He recalled that on the assumption of office for the first term in 2015, one of the very first steps he took was to visit neighbouring countries – Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin – all towards forging a common understanding on crucial issues, including security, trade and development.

“And those are issues we must continue to engage on, for the good of our countries and the people. Whatever irritation that comes up must be removed,” Buhari said.

President Talon disclosed that he was in Nigeria to show gratitude to President Buhari for the robust leadership he displays in Nigeria and Africa.

Noting that the challenges of 2020 were huge, he stressed that the same challenges may remain in 2021, “and our relationship as neighbours must, therefore, remain cordial.