Buhari, Saudi King Discuss Anti-Terror Campaign, Relations

President Mohammadu Buhari has had a telephone conversation with the King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
During their conversation, both leaders discussed crucial issues of bilateral relations and ongoing events in both their countries.
King Salman expressed the outright support of Saudi Arabia for Nigeria in its ongoing fight against terrorism and emphasized that Saudi Arabia stands in solidarity with the African country following a series of recent terrorist attacks.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia

King Salman also emphasized that criminal acts such as terrorism are denounced by Islam and asserted his kingdom will refuse to become involved in any kind of foreign intervention aimed at destabilizing the security and stability of Nigeria.
King Salman went on to say that he was extremely pleased that Nigeria had joined the Islamic alliance to fight terrorism.
The alliance is comprised of 34 mostly Muslim countries in West and North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia including Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Nigeria.
In turn, President Buhari expressed his thanks to King Salman for the affirmation of his country’s support for Nigeria and said he hopes to visit the kingdom soon.
The telephone conversation comes as relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia improve after a slight dip earlier in the year.
In February, Saudi Arabia refused to grant over-flight permits to plans carrying tanks and other military equipment procured by the Nigerian government from Pakistan to be used in the fight against Boko Haram.
Also, last September, more than 700 hundred attendants of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca died in a stampede.  The dead included many prominent and well known Nigerians.
The authorities subsequently tried to blame the African victims for causing the disaster, saying that pilgrims had refused to follow the proper timetable, leading to overcrowding.