Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, and ECOWAS Chairman, has assured the United Nations (UN) that the military leaders in Niger Republic will hand over power in March 2011.

Jonathan gave the assurance on Sunday night when he met with the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Asha Rose Migiro, at the sidelines of the 15th African Union (UN) Summit in Kampala.

Migiro is representing the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon at the summit. According to Jonathan, Nigeria's former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar is coordinating the transition project with the support of Senegal and Ghana, to ensure that the deadline on the handover is met.

Abubakar, the ECOWAS' Special Envoy and Chief Negotiator in Niger, is also attending the AU Summit in Kampala.

The President stressed the need to encourage and mentor the "young military leaders in Niger Republic who have shown some sincerity of purpose" to hand over next year. He said Nigeria was interested in events in the Niger Republic because of its proximity and shared cultural affinities.

"Any negative occurrence in Niger Republic would impact negatively on Nigeria in terms of massive influx of refugees.

"We are prepared to do all that is necessary to restore democracy in Niger," he said.

The President recalled that Nigeria recently sent grains as well as money to mitigate effects of the current drought in that country.

Jonathan also urged UN and other development partners to provide the necessary funds to reform the old soldiers and officers in Guinea Bissau, noting that such funds would be used to re-train the young soldiers and conduct elections.

Migiro had earlier highlighted current happenings in Niger Republic, Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Cote D'Ivoire. (NAN)