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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday, said the instability in Libya is affecting all countries in the Sahel region, including Nigeria. According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President spoke while receiving a special envoy from President Idris Itno of Republic of Chad at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The statement was titled “As neighbours and brothers, we’ll always stand by Chad, President Buhari assures.”

According to the statement, Buhari promised that Nigeria will always be there for the Republic of Chad as citizens of both countries are not only neighbours but brothers. He was also quoted as saying that Nigeria appreciates the support it is getting in tackling insecurity from the neighbouring country. The President said, “We are aware of the problem Chad has with Libya, which supports some Chadian rebels, trying to destabilize the country.

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The instability in Libyia after 42 years of Muammar Gaddafi affects all of us in the Sahel region.

“From Mauritania to Central Africa Republic, Gaddafi recruited gunmen, who learnt to do nothing else than to kill. “When the former Libyan leader was killed, the gunmen escaped with their arms, and are wreaking havoc all over the place now.” Stressing that Nigeria was grateful to Chad for the diverse kinds of support given to combat the Boko Haram insurgency, the President assured the country that Nigeria would always back up Chad in its local and international aspirations.

The special envoy, Mr Amine Abba-Sidick, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Chadians Abroad, conveyed a message from his President, whom he said sent fraternal greetings to President Buhari and Nigerians in general.