Dan Ali who is the Minister of Defence in Nigeria, has paid an official visit to the President of Niger Republic President Issoufou in Niamey over the issue of Boko Haram.
The Defence Minister, Dan Ali is visiting Niger Republic just a few weeks after President Issoufou’s visit to Nigeria to see President Muhammadu Buhari where the two leaders spoke about the security challenges facing both countries and the entire Centra and West African countries.
The visit by the Nigerian minister of Defence is a cotinuation of talks between both countries especially on the issue of Boko Haram menace and continued collaborations among countries committed to bringing a lasting solution to insurgency and insecurity in the zone.
Aside the issue of I surgency to which Boko Haram tops the list, there is also the issue of cross border crimes, banditry and armed robbery to the issue of unchecked cattle roastling amongst other things.
In a statement released by the Presidency on the visit, it said Dan Ali’s official visit to Niger Republic, is majorly on security issues as he was granted audience by President Issoufou of Niger at the Presidential Palace, Niamey.
According to the report, President Issoufou thanked President Buhari for providing good leadership in the sub-continent, leading to the successes recorded in the fight against insurgency. He also hailed the mutual cooperation between Nigeria and Niger in the fight against I surgency.
The Minister of Defence informed the Nigerien leader that he‘s in Niger to strenthen existing cooperation between Nigeria and Niger, especially in the fight against insurgency.
The two countries also signed an agreement on curtailing Boko Haram terrorism and cross-border crimes.
Niger is also a member of the military task force set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to tackle Boko Haram. Other countries also involved her Chad and Cameroun, where the insurgents have operated from for years now.