Germany’s Chancellor Merkel calls Buhari on her way out

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union called President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday to bid him farewell as she concludes her tenure.

According to a press release by Buhari’s media aide Femi Adesina, the German leader initiated the call.

In what appears a good call deserving another, it was Buhari who singled her out of the world leaders during his speech at the UNGA in New York last Thursday.

“Let me close my statement by paying special tribute to a great and humane internationalist, and an exemplary practitioner of multilateralist cooperation. I am speaking of Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Federal Republic of Germany. As she exits the stage, we wish her well,” Buhari said while concluding his speech.

In today’s conversation, Chancellor Merkel thanked President Buhari for his kind words and felicitation, wishing him greater successes in the challenging task of leading Nigeria and her about 200 million people.

Buhari was full of appreciation for the cooperation Germany showed Nigeria, and the ECOWAS sub-region at large, according to Adesina.

He particularly mentioned the support for the project to recharge Lake Chad, through inter-basin water transfer, which would alleviate the plight of about 30 million people.

President Buhari applauded Merkel’s initiatives on rehabilitation of refugees, and help for developing countries.

President Buhari said German companies like Julius Berger, Siemens, and others, were doing well in the country, adding that the Federal Government was doing a lot to improve infrastructure.

On the security situation, the President said a lot was being done to stabilize things at this difficult period, thanking all the countries that had given helping hand, including Germany.

And on agriculture and food security, President Buhari said much had been achieved, leading to stoppage of massive food importation to the country.