TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled his scheduled trip to Niger Republic.

The president was billed to attend the 59th proclamation of Republic of Niger ceremony in Tahoua, Niger, on Monday.

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, had announced that he would be accompanied on the trip by Aminu Masari, Ibrahim Gaidam and Kashim Shettima, governors of Katsina, Yobe and Borno states respectively.

But in a statement on Monday, he said the president would no longer be embarking on the trip and that he had sent the three governors and a minister to represent him.

“The event to which the President was invited is the celebration of the 59th year of the country’s independence” the statement read.

“Niger invited the leaders of neighbouring states: the Presidents of Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and Nigeria.

“President Buhari felt satisfied that he had had useful discussions with his friend and brother, President Mahamadou Issoufou, in the course of the weekend meeting in Abuja, of the Economic Community of West African States.

“After a phone call last (Sunday) night, between the leaders, President Buhari decided to send a delegation made up of the three governors of Katsina, Yobe and Borno states along with the minister of atate, foreign affairs to represent him.”