The Republic of Niger has sought assistance from Nigeria to address a severe fuel shortage, despite months of diplomatic tensions and hostile exchanges between the two nations.
According to a report by Sunday PUNCH, a high-level delegation from Niger’s military junta were assigned to Abuja to engage in discussions with representatives of the Federal Government. Following the talks, Nigeria reportedly approved the delivery of 300 trucks of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to its neighbor.
The report said a senior Nigerian official, privy to the details, revealed that Nigeria agreed to the deal with the intention of leveraging it as a “strategic bargaining tool” in ongoing negotiations with Niger. The official explained that Niger had previously depended on fuel supplies from a Chinese refinery. However, due to unresolved issues with the supplier, the refinery ceased operations, leaving Niger with few alternatives.
According to correspondents, Niger approached Nigeria only after its fuel shortage reached a critical level. The specifics of the arrangement remain confidential, as both sides are said to have opted to keep the details under wraps.
“We do not want to blow our trumpet. Rather, we want to use it as a bargaining chip for negotiation, as we continue to engage with them to bring them back to ECOWAS.
“Let them get more from us. I am confident that gradually they will come back to ECOWAS because they do not have enough resources to import food to sustain their citizens,” a senior government official told Sunday Punch.
Officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) indicated that the deal might have been facilitated by the Presidency, given that the national oil company now operates as a commercial entity. Meanwhile, a source at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery declined to comment, citing diplomatic sensitivities. The Presidency also refrained from making any official statements on the matter.
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