President Muhammadu Buhari has named a road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger Republic.
This was confirmed in a statement on Tuesday by the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello.
According to the Minister, President Buhari named the road after the Nigerien president for his “significant role in the promotion of peace in Africa”.
“Earlier today, the first phase of the on-going Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) in Abuja was named the ‘Mahamadou Issoufou Expressway’ in honour of the President of the Republic of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou,” the minister said on Tuesday.
“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.”
Recall that Issofou had bestowed on Buhari his country’s highest honour.
In reaction via Twitter, Mahamadou said the gesture shows that his relationship with Buhari and that of both countries is “excellent”.
“My brother and friend, @MBuhari, did me the honor to call an Abuja expressway ‘Mahamadou Issoufou expressway’,” he tweeted.
“This testifies, beyond our personal relations, to the excellent relations that exist between #Nigeria and #Niger. His caring touches me. I thank him very much.”
Last week, Mahamadou won the 2020 Mo Ibrahim prize for achievement in African leadership.
