A high-level Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, met with officials of the Republic of Niger in Niamey on Wednesday, April 16, in a major diplomatic effort to restore relations between the two neighbours.
The visit marked a significant shift in Nigeria’s engagement with Niger, whose ties have been strained since the military coup in July 2023.
Tuggar arrived in Niamey on Tuesday, April 15, delivering a special message from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the Head of State of the Republic of Niger. The delegation included senior diplomats, policy advisers, and defence liaison officers. Daily Trust learnt that discussions during the visit centred on security cooperation, regional trade, infrastructure projects, and revitalising the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission (NNJC).
A joint communiqué issued by the two countries described the discussions as cordial and comprehensive, addressing major bilateral, sub-regional, and international concerns. Key topics included operationalising cross-border markets, the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi railway, and other economic collaborations, such as tourism, agriculture, and ICT. Both sides agreed to cooperate through the NNJC and proposed a Joint Consultative Forum to address shared challenges.
The ministers acknowledged the deep fraternal ties between their nations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening cooperation and good neighbourliness. They specifically cited terrorism along the border as a serious impediment to development and called on their defence ministries to sustain security collaboration. The two nations also agreed to intensify political, economic, and cultural exchanges and hold regular meetings of expert committees and the NNJC Council of Ministers.
A source at Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Daily Trust that the move was part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to regional peace through dialogue. However, another source close to the developments revealed that Niger initially reached out to Nigeria, though it was kept away from public knowledge. “The Nigerien side made the move, but doesn’t want it in the news. It’s just like what happened when they had a fuel crisis some weeks back—they ran to Nigeria and Nigeria secretly came to their rescue,” the source said.
Former Nigerian Ambassador Suleiman Dahiru welcomed the development and described it as necessary. He stated, “A delegation from Nigeria was sent to Niger to discuss with the authorities in Niger, possibly on the way of restoring good relationship between the two countries and possibly extending to ECOWAS. But right from the start, it is unfortunate that we got this strained relationship.”
Ambassador Dahiru criticised the mutual actions that led to the breakdown in ties, pointing to both the border closures under former President Muhammadu Buhari and the post-coup sanctions. “When the coup d’état took place, actions were taken on both sides that did not engender friendship. The authorities in Niger Republic felt that Nigeria was too hard on them despite years of good relationship. That was why we got here,” he said.
He rejected claims that Nigeria was “begging” for peace. “To me, Nigeria is not begging. All that Nigeria is trying to do is take the initiative by going to Niger to discuss with the authorities there. It is now left to the authorities in Niger to think and find a way of getting a solution,” he said. He added, “In fact, in my honest opinion, Niger Republic should have been the one to send a delegation to Nigeria. But Nigeria decided to go to them. So it is for them now to think seriously whether this type of antagonistic relationship should continue or not.”
The meeting is the latest in a series of diplomatic efforts by Nigeria to restore ties since the July 2023 coup in Niger. Nigeria previously sent former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, as a mediator, while continuing work on joint infrastructure projects and cross-border security.
The diplomatic rift has had substantial economic and social consequences. Fuel shortages in Niger followed Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal, cutting off illegal but critical supplies. Meanwhile, border closures disrupted trade and strained the economies of border communities that share ethnic and cultural ties.
On the political front, Niger’s withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2025, alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, fragmented the bloc and weakened regional cooperation. The creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) by these countries added to the complexity, especially with the bloc’s shift away from ECOWAS and toward new international alliances.
Security cooperation has also been compromised. The lack of joint operations and intelligence sharing weakened the fight against insurgents in the Lake Chad Basin, with Borno State already experiencing a resurgence of attacks.
Niger’s government has accused Nigeria of colluding with France to destabilise its borders after recent terrorist incidents. With longstanding partnerships like the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) under strain, experts say restoring mutual trust is key to tackling regional threats.
The departure of the AES bloc from ECOWAS stemmed from dissatisfaction with the bloc’s sanctions and perceived pro-Western bias, especially toward France. The AES countries accused ECOWAS of failing to support their fight against terrorism and instead undermining their sovereignty. Their pivot toward alternative alliances, such as with Russia, has reshaped the geopolitical landscape in West Africa.
ECOWAS has attempted to mend relations, appointing Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ghanaian President John Mahama as mediators. While some progress has been made, ECOWAS’ diplomatic approach has yet to yield a breakthrough.
Tinubu’s leadership, which emphasises democratic norms and constitutional order, has drawn both praise and criticism. Some experts argue that Nigeria’s firm stance lacked diplomatic flexibility.
As Niger and Nigeria move forward from months of tension, the outcome of these renewed talks will test the resilience of their long-standing partnership and determine the future of regional cohesion in West Africa.
