Nigeria, Niger leaders meet soon to restore full ties
‘Absolutely,’ Nigeria foreign affairs minister says when asked if there was any hope of normalising relations
NIAMEY, Niger (MNTV) — After over 20 months of diplomatic strain, Nigeria and the Republic of Niger are set to restore full ties, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Nigerien counterpart Bakary Yaou Sangare hinted at the weekend.
Tuggar gave indication of a likely meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerien President, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani soon, to seal restoration of ties.
Already, key bilateral relations have been resuscitated as Tuggar and Sangare signed agreements last week during Tuggar’s visit.
Following a spat on the July 2023 coup, Niger on August 4, 2023, suspended diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
The borders of the two nations were shut, leading to economic losses and untold hardship for citizens on the border of brotherly countries.
Niger is Nigeria’s Northern neighbor, and its citizens and Nigerians in Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa and Katsina have ethnic and religious affinity.
Niger is also a member of the Alliance of Sahel States, which include Burkina Faso and Mali, both of them being led by military juntas.
But after many interventions and diplomatic shuttles by eminent Nigerians, including a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, issues have been resolved.
Asked yesterday if there was any hope of normalising relationships, Tuggar simply said: “Absolutely.”
After a meeting with the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sangare, he said: “Thank God we are here, in a place we call home, which every Nigerian and Nigerien knows well. We received a warm welcome, and we are grateful for that.
“We had extensive discussions, resulting in a signed agreement between both nations. The contents are significant, especially in today’s uncertain world.”
Pressed to disclose the contents of the agreement, Tuggar added: “The agreement covers regular meetings to discuss issues like insecurity, healthcare, transportation, train stations, roads, CNG vehicles to facilitate movement from northern Nigeria to Niger Republic.
“It also includes reviving the 1971 offices for bilateral relations and reinstating initiatives like the 1989 meetings between governors, kings, and local officials.”
Sangare said the diplomatic row was over. He said: “What happened between Nigeria and Niger Republic in the last one and a half years or 20 months is not peculiar to us.
“The important thing is that we have put differences behind us.
“Nigerians are our brothers. Whoever wants to cause disunity knows they will not succeed. We have settled our differences, for the bond is God-made, and no one can separate it.
“My prayer is that we implement all we have discussed, and may this mark the end of misunderstandings between ourselves and our brothers in Nigeria.”
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