The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Tuesday, stresses the importance of good neighbourliness and promised that the Federal Government will continue to work with neighbouring countries.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President spoke while receiving President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The statement was titled “Your neighbour’s survival is also your own, President Buhari tells visiting Benin Republic President.”

Adesina quoted Buhari as saying that “Good neighbourliness is very important in our lives.

“The survival of your neighbour is also your own, and we will continue to work with our neighbours in the light of this understanding.”

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The President recalled that on the assumption of office for first term in 2015, one of the first steps he took was to visit neighbouring countries – Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin – all towards forging a common understanding on crucial issues, including security, trade and development.

“And those are issues we must continue to engage on, for the good of our countries and the people. Whatever irritations that come up must be removed,” he added.

The statement also quoted Talon as saying that he was in Nigeria to thank Buhari for the robust leadership he displays in Nigeria and Africa.

Noting that the challenges of 2020 were huge, he stressed that the same challenges may remain in 2021, “and our relationship as neighbours must, therefore, remain cordial.”