Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabi’u, others get Niger Republic national honours

Aliko Dangote
Aliko Dangote

Niger Republic has awarded six Nigerians with national honours as part of activities marking her Independence Day.

The country on Wednesday honoured Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Group and Abdulsamad Rabi’u, president, BUA Group.

It also honoured Sarki Abba, senior special assistant (household and domestic affairs) to President Muhammadu Buhari, and the state chief of protocol, Amb. Lawal Kazaure.

Governors Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara were also honoured.

They were awarded the “Order of Merit of Niger’’ and “Great Master of National Awards’’.

Presenting the awards, Niger President Mohammed Bazoum said his country cherishes Nigeria as one of her closest neighbours and friends.

In various citations he read, Bazoum praised the efforts of “Brother Nigerians’’ who had made great strides in increasing understanding between the two nations and for acting as agents of social and economic development.

Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu, was one of those who graced the occasion.

Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said on Wednesday that the awards were in recognition of the recipients’ roles in the promotion of better relations between the two countries.