President Muhammadu Buhari has urged foreign diplomats in Nigeria not to interfere in the country’s elections, saying they could only monitor the nation’s political development.

Buhari advised the diplomats while receiving letters of credence from Mexican and Canadian diplomats to confine themselves within the limit of their professional engagement in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, by the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

President Buhari noted that Nigeria was drawing closer to its national elections and candidates representing their parties at different levels were preparing to build consensus within their respective parties in preparations for the launching of campaigns across the country soon.

He said: “As the drums of campaign begin to rise, I urge you to be guided by diplomatic practice to ensure that your activities remain within the limits of your profession as you monitor the build-up to the elections and the conduct of the general elections.”

President Buhari, who admitted that the effects of insecurity, climate change, and COVID-19 pandemic are taking toll on nations including Nigeria, called for closer collaboration to tackle the challenges.

He said the success recorded in taming insecurity had been recorded through collaboration across borders, adding that more could be achieved.

“The devastating effect of global insecurity, climate change, and the post COVID-19 era has devastated global economies. Nations continue to struggle to recover from these multiple global challenges.

“The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has undermined the progress countries have achieved in tackling food security in the last decade. While, the political instability in Libya continues to fuel terrorism in the Sahel, as well as scuttle democratic sustenance in both West and Central African regions.

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“Nigeria is not left out of the equation, as we are fighting to rid our country of banditry, kidnapping, herder/farmer crisis and insurgency. We are, however, making meaningful progress with the support of friendly countries like yours to sustain these fights until we overcome these challenges,” the President said.

According to Buhari, Nigeria has been working with other ECOWAS States and other regional blocs to deal with the problems of terrorism, trans-border crimes, maritime crimes such as piracy and illegal fishing on the country’s waters, illicit drug and human trafficking, banditry, as well as unconstitutional changes of government.

“I believe that matters of security have become the business of all nations as these challenges go beyond the abilities of any single country to effectively contain. The world must, therefore, work closely together and Nigeria counts on your support in cementing the relations between our countries at both bilateral and multilateral levels to surmount these global threats to civilization,” he added.

Buhari, while receiving the Letters from Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador James Kingston Christoff, and Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, Juan Alfred Miranda Oritz, advised them to focus on building on the successes of their predecessors.

The President said: “The task before you require you both to build on the successes of your predecessors and further make efforts in the expansion and advancement of the cordial bilateral relations and cooperation between Nigeria and your respective countries. These relations as you all know, span across political, socio-economic and cultural spheres, that have overtime benefitted our peoples.

“I am confident that, in carrying out your diplomatic responsibilities in the course of your tour of duties, you will spare time to appreciate the uniqueness and strength in our country’s cultural diversities, in terms of both human and natural resources, as well as the flora and fauna across the country.

Speaking on behalf of the ambassadors, the Canadian High Commissioner thanked President Buhari for accepting the Letters of Credence.

“Today marks formal beginning of our engagement with the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We will work closely with ministers and officials to start a progressive relationship,” Christoff said.

The Star