By Levinus Nwabughiogu
President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari and President of Chad, Idris Deby at the Defence House, Abuja on Monday, 11 May 2015. With them is Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali.
Deby made the pledge during his congratulatory visit to Buhari in Abuja.
Speaking through an interpreter, the visiting president also hailed Nigeria for conducting a peaceful election.
He said: “This visit is aimed at congratulating the Nigerian people and leaders for achieving one of the greatest elections ever seen in Africa. Nigeria and Chad are two countries with one people. We have many things in common, a long tradition and a long history together.
“The meeting is in continuity of the relationship between the two states and we discussed issues of common perspectives to see what we have to achieve.
“Chad and Nigeria are facing the same challenges and how to meet the expectations of the people. Both countries are members of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the two countries, together with other members are considering how to bring about peace, stability and security in the sub region with the core issue of Boko
“On the issues of common interest, we will see to this issue together and to have a joint action to handle the issue of Boko Haram and they will over come it and by the grace of God, peace and security will prevail in the subregion.”
Responding, the president-elect, Buhari regretted that the terrorists have dealt a big blow to the country’s infrastructures, saying that once his government comes on stream, he would do a comprehensive review of the situation.
“We know how Chad, Niger and Cameroon have been helping Nigeria to secure our border and you how this helps in commerce and industry. Due to the insurgency attacks, some of the bridges were blown up while infrastructures were destroyed.
“These were some of things that we discussed and God’s willing when our government is in place, we will sit and make sure we have a comprehensive review of the security situation in the north east and how it affects the country”, he said.
Meanwhile, Buhari also played host to the ambassadors of India and Lebanon to Nigeria who paid him a congratulatory visit.
