President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said it was in Nigeria’s best interest to be interested in the affairs of its northern neighbour, Chad Republic.

The president made the assertion when he received a special envoys of the country’s transitional leader Mahamat Debt at the State House Abuja.

The delegation came to seek Nigeria’s support as it holds a Sovereign National Dialogue on August 20.

“Common sense makes it extremely important that we be interested in the stability of Chad Republic, as it is in our own interest,” Mr Buhari told his guests. “We are genuinely concerned, and I am sincerely impressed with the leadership of the country in stabilizing the polity.”

To further buttress his point, Mr Buhari said “It was the belief in good neighborliness that made me first visit Chad, Niger Republic, Cameroon, and Benin Republic when I came in 2015.

”The more exclusion we create, the more we endanger present and future generations of our countries.”

Mr Buhari promised to “keep an ear to the ground, monitor developments closely,” as Chadians hold the National Dialogue, and offered the support of Nigeria in any form required.

The Special Envoy, Brah Mahamat Dallah, said the “the outcome (of the national dialogue) would be respected, and not tampered with.”

Mr Dallah, who is also the country’s Minister of Public Works, extolled the long relationship between Nigeria and Chad.

He indicated that over 99 per cent of Chadians were interested in, and taking part in the National Dialogue, including main rebel groups.

He said the parley was sovereign, and the conclusions would be scrupulously implemented.

“We need the support of Nigeria during and after the event,” he added. 

(NAN)