President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday repeated his promise to go and stay far away in his hometown of Daura in Katsina State after he leaves office next week, but has added that the people of Republic of Niger, which is nearby, would provide him cover should he be harassed by anyone after office.
Speaking at the official commissioning of new N19.6billion Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) corporate headquarters in Abuja, the President explained that his confidence arose from his deliberate efforts to smoothen Nigeria’s relations with Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries.
According to him: “I try to plan to be as far away from Abuja as possible. I came from an area which is far away from Abuja.
“If anybody with force moves, I have good relationship with my neighbours. Niger people will defend me.”
According to him, if one does not secure the confidence of his neighbour he or his grandchild will be in trouble.
He recalled how he closed the border to prevent rice importation and the complaints that it would affect neighbouring countries that he should have a good relationship with.
He added that in the bid to earn the goodwill of Niger Republic, Cameroon and Chad were the countries he first visited on assumption of office.
Buhari said: “I think I am trying to make my point. Later Nigerians will appreciate it because it provides more jobs.
“People should go back to agriculture. We have the land and they will produce what we eat. And for people who think that our neighbours can be a loser let’s continue to be with our neighbours.
”That is why when I became the President, my first visit was to Niger, Chad and Cameroon because based on neighbourhood on personal and national reason if you don’t secure the confidence of your neighbour you are in trouble.
”If you are not in trouble, your children and grandchildren be in trouble. So it is very good I established relationship with my neighbours.”
Buhari also said that the new Customs Act which he recently signed into law would enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of customs administration, stressing that it is a testament to his administration’s commitment to fostering a business –friendly environment, attracting investments and driving economic growth.
He stressed that he had always recognized the critical role of Customs as an instrument of economic prosperity and overall development of the nation.
“We are all aware of the challenges faced by our Customs Service, particularly the issue of fragile borders that provide opportunities for illicit activities. The recent increase in transnational crimes, smuggling, and security threats necessitates the need for a robust and agile customs administration. I am fully cognizant of these challenges and the urgent need to address them.
“I am pleased to highlight that in line with our commitment to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of our customs administration, I recently signed the Customs Bill into law.
“The new Act, which is a product of extensive consultations and deliberations, represents a significant step towards modernizing our customs operations, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and promoting trade facilitation. It is a testament to our commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment, attracting investments, and driving economic growth,” the President said.
