Niger Republic Residents Deface Highway Named After Nigerian President, Buhari In Niamey, Put Abusive Names

Nigeriens who were behind the destruction also called the Nigerian President unprintable names, describing him as “a criminal.”

Residents of Niger Republic have defaced a highway in the Niger Republic capital Niamey named after President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria less than a month after it was constructed.

Nigeriens who were behind the destruction also called the Nigerian President unprintable names, describing him as “a criminal.”

According to People’s Gazette, the perpetrators were yet to be arrested in connection to the vandalism.

The hostile behaviour and name calling were coming despite the Nigerian president’s efforts to strengthen relations with Niger Republic, a move which has earned him criticism at home.

In November 2022, the highway measuring 3.8 kilometres boulevard was commissioned in Niger Republic by President Mohammed Bazoun, with the road immediately named after Buhari, in line with Niger Republic’s constitutional provision.

Buhari had always expressed satisfaction with the existing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and its neighbouring country, most especially the Niger Republic.

Under his administration, the Nigerian president built roads and railways to Niger, thereby, opening dialogue that would best assist the country on essential matters in the areas of security, tackling smuggling, and importation of illegal weapons.

Also, billions were spent to support Nigerien forces with vehicles and other equipment to tackle crime and other forms of insecurity challenges.

Recall that Buhari was the first to name a Nigerian road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after the immediate past Niger President Issoufou Mahamadou.

Buhari, who was represented at the ceremony by FCT minister Mohammed Bello, said the expressway was named after Mahamadou for his “significant role in the promotion of peace in Africa”.

“The road was named after the Nigerien President by President @MBuhari as a mark of deep appreciation for the maintenance of brotherly relationship between Nigeria & the Rep. of Niger & in recognition of the Nigerien President’s significant role in the promotion of peace in Africa,” the presidency tweeted in March 2021.

SaharaReporters had reported how President Buhari’s government procured 10 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles for officials of Niger Republic with public funds.

From documents seen by SaharaReporters, the Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, approved N1,145,000,000 for the purchase of 10 Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles, for government officials in the Republic of Niger.

The contract was awarded to one Messrs Kaura Motors Nigeria Limited and approved by President Buhari on February 25, 2022.

According to the document sighted by SaharaReporters, the Nigerian government, in order to cover up its fraud, had obtained Due Process Certificate of No Objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to Direct Procurement Method.

The contract was said to be funded from the Ministry of Finance’s 2022 Appropriation sum of N282 billion.