The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has said that Nigeria’s 61-year relationship with Saudi Arabia is long and steadfast.

He also  said that the oil-rich kingdom has been kind to Nigeria.

Buhari said this on Tuesday while hosting the Saudi Arabian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Faisal Al-Saud, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement titled ‘Saudi Arabia has been kind to us, says President Buhari in meeting with Saudi minister.’

Receiving the minister, Buhari said with Nigeria’s large population and infrastructural deficit, the country needed all the revenue she could get from oil, a mainstay of the economy, “and Saudi Arabia has been very kind to us, making sacrifices by reducing production to accommodate us several times.”

The President noted that the relationship between the two countries is very strong, “and dates back in time, both at the personal and national levels.”

“It is long and steadfast,” the President added.

On his part, Al-Saud brought greetings from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, saying the Kingdom appreciates the relationship with Nigeria, “which dates back 61 years, and we want to strengthen it even further.”

He said both countries have good prospects both economically and politically, not just among the leaders, but also the people.

“There’s still a lot we can do together,” he added.