From Bello Wakili
President Muhammadu Buhari has met with his Nigerien counterpart, Mohamed Bazoum, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Also present at the meeting were seven Northern governors which include, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Prof. Babagana Zulum of Borno, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state and Abdulahi Ganduje of Kano state.
The Governors, welcomed the visiting President at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The visiting Nigerien leader, who is on a two-day official visit to Nigeria, was received by President Buhari at the forecourt of the villa.
The agenda of the meeting was not made public
Among those who joined the president to welcome Bazoum are the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd), and the Minister of Defence, Salihi Magashi.
Also present are the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Rufa’i and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva.
The new President of Niger Republic’s inauguration marked the first successful transfer of power from outgoing president to an elected Nigerien leader since the country’s independence in 1960.
After the brief welcome ceremony, the two West African leaders went into closed doors bilateral talks immediately.
It was further gathered that Bazoum, 61, would also be hosted to a private breaking of fast by President Buhari at about 6.50p.m