President Buhari cancels scheduled trip to Niger Republic

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday cancelled his scheduled trip to Niger Republic.

His Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had announced on Sunday that Buhari would join some African leaders for the 59th Proclamation of Republic of Niger ceremony in Niger.




Shehu, however, explained that the President cancelled the trip because he felt satisfied that he had had useful discussions with President Mahamadou Issoufou in the course of the weekend meeting of the Economic Community of West African States in Abuja.

He added that after a telephone discussion with Issoufou on Sunday evening, Buhari decided to send the three governors of Katsina, Yobe and Borno States as well as the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs to represent him.




The presidential spokesman said, “The event to which the President was invited is the celebration of the 59th year of the country's independence.

“Niger invited the leaders of neighbouring countries: the Presidents of Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and Nigeria.

“President Buhari felt satisfied that he had had useful discussions with his friend and brother, President Mahamadou Issoufou, in the course of the weekend meeting in Abuja, of the Economic Community of West African States.

“After a phone call last (Sunday) night, between the leaders, President Buhari decided to send a delegation made up of the three governors of Katsina, Yobe and Borno States along with the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs to represent him.”