Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, paid a working
visit to Niamey, Niger Republic’s capital, on Wednesday.
The visit came amid a frosty relationship between Nigeria
and Niger.
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.
“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 emphasized the need to
strengthen economic cooperation especially in operationalization 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, 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 an official working visit to
Nigeria which the latter accepted.
The statement said a date for the visit will be communicated
through diplomatic channels.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
