Nigeria moves to mend diplomatic ties with Niger Republic
Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has paid a working visit to Niamey, Niger Republic’s capital amidst frosty relationship between the two neighbours.
Tuggar was received by Bakary Sangaré, his Nigerien counterpart, according to a statement issued by both ministers.
The discussions took place against a backdrop of lingering tensions stemming from the July 2023 coup in Niger.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), under the chairmanship of President Bola Tinubu, had imposed stringent sanctions on Niger and advocated for the restoration of constitutional order while threatening military intervention.
The strong reaction led to a significant cooling of diplomatic ties between Abuja and Niamey, with border closures and the suspension of some cooperative efforts.
Last month, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a breakaway faction of ECOWAS comprising junta-led Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, imposed a 0.5 percent import duty on goods from member nations of its former bloc, escalating strained relations.
A statement from the Nigerian and Nigerien ministers said the meeting was a mutual initiative aimed at mending bridges that would foster closer relations between both nations.
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“Some of the concerns raised were the renewed commitment to revitalise the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission (NNJC), which would further consolidate the gains made so far,” the ministers noted.
“Furthermore, the two parties emphasised the need to strengthen economic cooperation especially in operationalisation of cross-border markets, trade and energy, the Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi railway, the construction of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, Trans-Saharan Highway, Trans-Saharan Fiber Optic.
Others are Bilateral Air Services, local bilateral committees, micro-diplomacy, tariffs and taxes, desertification, good neighborliness policies, migration, tourism, education, new information and communication technologies, agriculture and livestock farming, and infrastructure.”
Tuggar and Sangaré also urged the defence ministries in their countries to continue security cooperations that would tackle terrorism along the shared borders.
The delegations agreed to increase mutual exchanges at all levels, particularly through the regular holding of meetings of the committees of experts, the council of ministers, and the NNJC.
Tuggar invited Sangaré to pay a working visit to Nigeria which the latter accepted.
The statement said a date for the visit will be communicated through diplomatic channels.
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