TheNewsGuru

Tag: Niger Republic

  • Why Buhari is more loyal to Niger Republic – By Farooq Kperogi

    Why Buhari is more loyal to Niger Republic – By Farooq Kperogi

    By Farooq Kperogi

    It has come to light that Muhammadu Buhari has approved N1.4 billion from Nigeria’s coffers (without the approval of the National Assembly!) to help the Republic of Niger buy vehicles for its government officials to fight insecurity while insecurity engulfs Nigeria and while ASUU is still on strike.

    Many Nigerians are understandably angry and are asking why Buhari seems to have more loyalty to Niger Republic than he does to Nigeria. Well, here is what I wrote about that in my June 12, 2021, column titled “Making Sense of Buhari’s Nonsense Now Senseless”:

    Or take his justification for building a railway in Niger Republic while most parts of Nigeria are devoid of basic transportational infrastructure. “I have first cousins in Niger,” he said. “There are Kanuris, there are Hausas, there are Fulanis in Niger Republic just as there are Yorubas in Benin Republic and so on. You can’t absolutely cut them off.”

    In which world does this make sense? So, he isn’t building infrastructure in Benin Republic, Cameroon, and Chad because he has no cousins there? And, perhaps, he hasn’t built infrastructure in other parts of Nigeria because he has no cousins there?

    Buhari is supposed to be “president” of Nigeria. It is to Nigeria and its constituents that he owes allegiance, not his cousins and kinfolk in another country. It is borderline treasonable to deprive a country you lead of its resources and wealth in order to develop another in which you’re not even a legal citizen just because a part of your ancestry is traceable to that country.

    Yes, colonialists arbitrarily imposed unnatural borders on the African continent and created nation-states without regard to pre-existing polities. I also come from a border community. Borgu, where I am from, used to be a confederacy that stretched from parts of what is now Kwara State, Niger State, Kebbi State to what is now northern and central Benin Republic. More than 80 percent of the people who speak my native Baatonu language live in northern and central Benin Republic.

    Most people from the border states of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Niger, and Kebbi have relatives in Benin Republic. Just like people from the border states of Cross River, Taraba, and Adamawa have relatives in Cameroon. People from Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi have relatives in Niger Republic, and Borno also shares borders with the Republic of Chad.

    But our nation-states have existed for more than five decades and have acquired independent identities in spite of their unnaturalness. Niger Republic is a Westphalian sovereign state like Nigeria is. Buhari’s emotions can’t override that fact. If everyone from Nigeria’s border states becomes president and decides to divert resources from Nigeria to develop their kinfolk in a neighboring country, what will become of Nigeria?

    This is particularly concerning because Buhari has shown time and again that he has more emotional investment in Niger Republic (because his father migrated from there to Dumurkul in the Daura Emirate of Katsina State) than he has in Nigeria which he leads. (He might as well go the whole hog and build infrastructure in Senegal since it’s the ancestral home of the Fulani, his paternal relatives).

    He talks about Igbo people, his Westphalian compatriots, with unconcealed animosity and genocidal fury but builds infrastructure for his kinfolk in a foreign country using resources derived from a part of the country he openly disdains supposedly because they gave him only “5 percent” of their vote. That’s not the way to run a modern state….

  • Niger Republic honours Buhari’s aides, Dangote, 4 other Nigerians with highest civilian awards

    Niger Republic honours Buhari’s aides, Dangote, 4 other Nigerians with highest civilian awards

    The Republic of Niger has honoured six Nigerians with the country’s highest national awards as part of activities to mark the country’s Independence Day on August 3rd.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the six Nigerians so honoured on Wednesday include two presidential aides, two businessmen and two state governors.

    Those honoured from the Presidency were Sarki Abba, Senior Special Assistant (Household and Domestic Affairs) to President Muhammadu Buhari, and the State Chief of Protocol, Amb. Lawal Kazaure.

    Businessmen honoured are Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group and Abdulsamad Rabi’u, President, BUA Group.

    The two governors honoured are Alhaji Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa and Mohammed Bello Matawalle of Zamfara.

    They were awarded the “Order of Merit of Niger’’ and “Great Master of National Awards’’.

    Presenting the awards, President Mohammed Bazoum said his country cherished Nigeria as one of its closest neighbours and friends.

    In various citations he read, Bazoum praised the efforts of “Brother Nigerians’’ who had made great strides in increasing understanding between the two nations and for acting as agents of social and economic development.

    Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu, was one of those who graced the occasion.

    Malam Garba Shehu, spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari stated in Abuja on Wednesday that the awards were in recognition of the recipients’ roles in the promotion of better relations between the two countries.

    Aug. 3 is a day set aside to mark Niger’s independence from France in 1960.

    The Francophone country also marks the day as “Tree Planting Day’’ as its nationals have been planting trees on the anniversary since 1975 to fight desertification.

  • Why we purchased 10 SUVs for Niger Republic – FG

    Why we purchased 10 SUVs for Niger Republic – FG

    The Federal Government has said it purchased 10 SUVs valued at N1.15bn for the Republic of Niger in order to enable the country to safeguard its territory in the best interest of Nigeria’s security.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed made this known on Wednesday while fielding questions from State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Let me just say that, over time, Nigeria has had to support its neighbours, especially immediate neighbours, to enhance their capacity to secure their countries as it relates to us.

    “This is not the first time that Nigeria has supported Niger, Cameroon or Chad, and the President makes an assessment as to what is required, based on the request of their president and such requests are approved and the interventions provided is to enhance their capacity to protect their own territory as it relates to security also to Nigeria.

    “Nigerians have a right to ask questions, but also the President has a responsibility to make an assessment of what is in the best interests of the country. And I cannot question that decision,” Ahmed explained.

    A report published by Sahara Reporters had revealed how President Buhari approved N1.15bn to purchase 10 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles for the Nigerien government. The record which was sourced from the ‘appropriations’ page of the Ministry’s website showed that in July 2022, N1,145,000,000 was approved for payment to Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited to supply the SUVs.

    It also revealed that the President had okayed the disbursement since February 2022. The news has sparked outrage amongst Nigerians who argued that funding a foreign entity should not be the government’s priority amid the harsh economic realities.

  • Deborah Samuel: Police launch manhunt for prime suspect, says he’s a foreigner

    Deborah Samuel: Police launch manhunt for prime suspect, says he’s a foreigner

    The principal suspect involved in the lynching of Deborah Samuel Yakubu, a part two student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, in Sokoto state is at large, a police source had hinted.

    The police source said the man whose face was captured in the viral video after the lynching of Deborah is a foreigner who is suspected to have returned to neighbouring Niger Republic his country.

     

    According to the Police, the suspect has now gone into hiding and the police has launched a manhunt for him both in Nigeria and Niger Republic.

    The suspect was captured boasting about his role in the lynching and burning of the innocent part two student.

    “We started looking for him immediately we saw his video on social media, because he is fundamental to our investigation.

    “We are now learning that he is not even a Nigerian but only came in illegally from Niger Republic to cause chaos in our country,” a top police source told Peoples Gazette.

    According to the police source, Interpol might be deployed to help fish out and arrest the suspect.

    The source said that, many police officers believe the suspect is a Nigerian and is still within the country’s borders.

    “Some officers are saying he is a Nigerian and we need additional time to find him,” the source told the newspaper.

    “We have no facial recognition database, but we are following all available intelligence on the matter,” the source added.

  • Air Peace begins direct flights into Niger Republic

    Air Peace begins direct flights into Niger Republic

    Air Peace has begun direct flights into Niamey, Niger Republic. This was disclosed by the spokesman Mr Stanley Olisa, in Lagos on Saturday.

    Mr Stanley Olisa stated that the inaugural flight was conducted with one of the airline’s Embraer 145 jets, from its subsidiary- Air Peace Hopper.

    He quoted the leader of the Air Peace delegation on the flight, Capt. Augustine Kamano, as saying that Niamey had always been on the airline’s radar.

    This is especially as the airline was poised to expand its footprints across the West African coast and interconnect different cities in the sub-region.

    Olisa also quoted Kamano, the Director of Flight Operations, as saying that Niger Republic and Nigeria are good neighbours.

    He said also that Air Peace was excited to serve as a strategic means of fostering the already existing positive relations and further cementing the ties between the two countries through air travel.

    “We are determined to reduce the air travel burden of Africans, and this will continue to propel our route expansion as well as fleet modernisation programme.

    “Air Peace has accomplished so much in just seven years of operation, as we now have a network of 20 domestic routes, seven regional routes and two international destinations.

    “The international destinations include Johannesburg, which we launched in December 2020.

    “Also planned for launch in the future are routes such as Houston-USA, Mumbai-India, Guangzhou-China and London. We’re constantly reviewing our route network in line with the travel needs of Africans,’’ Kamano said.

    He expressed gratitude to Niger Republic authorities and the Nigerian Government that made the airline’s entry into Niamey possible.

    Kamano also promised that Air Peace would work concertedly with all relevant aviation stakeholders to ensure the new route is maximised for air travellers.

    In her remarks, the Nigerian Deputy Ambassador to Niger Republic, Aisha Kabiru, emphasised that Air Peace’s entry into Niger would boost socio-cultural and economic ties between both countries.

    She noted that the development would also ease the burden of air travel for Nigerians and Nigeriens to connect both destinations, especially for commercial purposes.

    Kabiru thanked Air Peace for always rescuing Nigerians, citing the airline’s evacuation record and reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Embassy in Niger to supporting its operations in the neighbouring country.

    In February, Air Peace announced plans to kick off three weekly flights into Niamey from Abuja and Kano.

    The airline also has in the works two other African destinations – Malabo in Equatorial Guinea and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

  • We’ll continue to assist Niger Republic, close neighbours – Buhari

    We’ll continue to assist Niger Republic, close neighbours – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Nigeria will continue to assist its close neighbours in diverse ways as required.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said Buhari gave the assurance when he hosted the newly inaugurated President of Republic of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, who was in Nigeria on his first international visit.

    The Nigerian leader also assured Bazoum that Nigeria would continue to do all it could to stabilise the West African sub-region, saying that Nigerians and Nigeriens shared similar culture and language.

    He said: “We will stabilise our region for the benefit of the two countries,

    “Nigerians and Nigeriens are people with similar culture, language and ways of life, and we also share about 1,500 kilometres of land border, so we cannot ignore each other.”

    The president congratulated Bazoum on winning the recent presidential election, and his successful inauguration into office.

    “You have been in the system for a long time. The only thing is that you had never been President. Now you are one,” he said,

    On terrorism, as perpetrated by Boko Haram, Buhari observed that Republic of Niger also suffers high casualties, vowing: “We will do all it takes to secure our two countries.”

    Buhari was thankful to the immediate past President, Mahamadou Issoufou, for what he called “his understanding and sacrifices” to help stabilise the region, urging the successor to maintain the institutions his predecessor had established.

    Bazoum had earlier said he was delighted to make Nigeria his first port of call, noting that the two countries had common interests, “and, therefore, a good relationship is very important.

    On security, he observed that the fact that some Nigerians flee to Niger during terrorist attacks “shows that we need to cooperate, and we will face our challenges together”.

    Bazoum, who is on a two-day official visit to Nigeria, would be hosted to a private breaking of fast by Buhari.

  • Niger Republic’s Mohamed Bazoum sworn in as president after failed coup

    Niger Republic’s Mohamed Bazoum sworn in as president after failed coup

    Niger’s newly elected President Mohamed Bazoum has been sworn in, a democratic watershed overshadowed by armed groups’ violence and alleged coup bid two days ago.

    The inauguration on Friday marks the first-ever transition between elected presidents in Niger’s six decades of independence from France, a historic moment that has been widely praised.

    Mohamed Bazoum, sworn in on Friday as president of the troubled Sahel state of Niger, worked for years as the right-hand man of his predecessor Mahamadou Issoufou.

    The 61-year-old steps into the world spotlight with one of the toughest jobs around — taking the helm of a deeply poor country battling a double jihadist insurgency.

    Bazoum successfully campaigned in Niger’s elections as Issoufou’s anointed successor, a unifier of the nation and a defender of the rural poor.

    He won the February runoff with 55.6 percent of the vote, according to official results contested by his opponent Mahamane Ousmane.

    But the Sahel country’s instability and insecurity have been deeply underscored in the run-up to Friday’s ceremony.

    In the early hours of Wednesday, after gunfire broke out near the presidency in the capital Niamey, the government announced an “attempted coup” had been thwarted, a “cowardly and regressive act which sought to threaten democracy and the state of law”.

    Bazoum, 60, is a former interior minister and right-hand man of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, 68, who has voluntarily stepped down after two five-year terms.

    But his most formidable rival, former Prime Minister Hama Amadou, was banned from running because of a conviction for baby trafficking, a charge he has branded politically motivated.

    There have been growing attacks by armed groups and political tensions in the country following Bazoum’s victory with more than 55 percent of the ballot in a February presidential election runoff. Former President Mahamane Ousmane, who lost in the runoff, has rejected the results alleging fraud.

    Last week, Niger’s top court confirmed Bazoum’s win, allowing the governing party candidate to be sworn in on April 2.

    Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, according to the benchmark of the UN’s 189-nation Human Development Index (HDI).

    The West African nation has suffered four coups in its history, most recently a February 2010 putsch that toppled then-President Mamadou Tandja.

    A week ago, gunmen on motorcycles attacked villages located near the border with Mali, killing at least 137 people in the deadliest violence to strike Niger in recent memory.

    Those attacks came on the same day that the Constitutional Court certified Bazoum’s electoral victory.

    In January, at least 100 people were killed in villages, the same day that Niger announced the presidential election would go to a second round on February 21.

  • Flash: Heavy gunfire heard near presidential palace

    Flash: Heavy gunfire heard near presidential palace

    Heavy gunfire was heard in the area of the presidential palace in Niger Republic’s capital around 3:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Wednesday.

    The sound from the gunshot lasted for about 30 minutes, according to residents.

    Other shots were also heard early in the morning in the area of Niamey International Airport, where Niger’s military base was located.

    The presidential guard has blocked all access routes to the palace at strategic points.

  • Buhari vows to help Niger Republic, others fight terrorism

    Buhari vows to help Niger Republic, others fight terrorism

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that Nigeria will help Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries in the fight against terrorism.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

    Shehu said President Buhari and Mahamadou Issoufou, President of Niger Republic agreed to strengthen sub-regional security as a way to push back against Boko Haram and Islam in West Africa, ISWA’s worrisome assertiveness in sub-Sahara and Sahel regions.

    “President Buhari, who called his counterpart on the phone to sympathise with him and citizens of the neighbouring country, following the recent killing of 137 people, strongly condemned the terrorist attacks, describing it as heinous.

    “Our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of victims and people of Niger Republic. Nigeria stands with all her neighbours in the fight against terrorism,” the statement read.

    Recently, ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), also known as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) claimed its fighters carried out 517 attacks around the world between January 1 and March 17.

    According to the group, Nigeria is ranked second on the list with 112 attacks.

    Other countries listed are Iraq (162), Syria (106), Egypt (30), Afghanistan (68), DRC (18), Niger (9), Pakistan (7), Tunisia (2), Chad (1), Mali (1) and Somalia (1).

    Gun-wielding fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) had claimed different attacks in Nigeria within the 81 days.

    The group has killed thousands and displaced millions in Northeastern Nigeria.

  • We’re glad elections went well in Republic of Niger – Buhari

    We’re glad elections went well in Republic of Niger – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed satisfaction with the way and manner the Feb. 20 run-off presidential election was conducted in Republic of Niger.

    The president, who made his feelings known after he was briefed on the elections in the neighbouring country by former Vice-President Namadi Sambo, on Monday at State House, Abuja, said Nigeria was concerned about security in Republic of Niger.

    Sambo is ECOWAS Head of Mission on the election in Republic of Niger.

    The Nigerian leader said: “We are concerned about their stability, and I am glad the elections went well. I am happy it was transparent, as attested to by most of the observers.’’

    He congratulated Sambo and his team for a job well done, stating; “I am glad you came back with good news.”

    The ECOWAS Head of Mission on the election said he met with all the stakeholders before the polls, which went into run-off after the initial exercise in December 2020 was inconclusive.

    “We observed about 400 polling units in five regions of the country, and the process was peaceful, done professionally.

    “Every citizen was given the right to vote and be voted for,’’ he said.

    Sambo described the election as “a great improvement on that of Dec. 27 last year.”

    He thanked President Buhari for facilitating the transportation needs of his team.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that the candidate of the ruling party was announced by the electoral body as having won more than 50 per cent of the votes, a decision disputed by the opposition candidate, who has now approached the constitutional court for redress.

    The court has powers to declare a winner in an election, according to the Constitution of Republic of Niger.