Nigerian minister’s diplomatic visit to Niamey: Economic cooperation and security in focus

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar met his Nigerien counterpart in Niamey on April 16, 2025, to discuss economic cooperation and security amidst ongoing political tensions and terrorist threats.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar paid an official visit to Niamey on April 16, 2025, in a tense diplomatic climate. This visit followed a year of heightened tensions between Niger and its Nigerian neighbour, exacerbated by the coup d’état in July 2023 in Niger. It marked the second visit by a senior Nigerian official since the coup, following the visit of Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Christopher Musa, in August 2024.

Economic Cooperation and Infrastructure Projects

Discussions between Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and his Nigerien counterpart, Yaou Sangaré Bakary, mainly focused on economic cooperation and cross-border security challenges. A key project discussed during the talks was the railway connecting Nigeria and Niger. The project is expected to link the Nigerian cities of Kano, Katsina, and Jibiya to Maradi in Niger, with commissioning planned for 2026. This project is part of a broader programme aimed at strengthening trade between the two countries.

The two ministers also addressed the construction of the Trans-Saharan Highway and the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline. These infrastructures are seen as crucial for boosting economic relations between the two nations and facilitating trade with Europe and the rest of Africa. The issue of customs duties and taxation was also discussed with the aim of streamlining cross-border trade.

Security Issues and Regional Cooperation

Security concerns also played a central role in the discussions. Both ministers expressed their concerns about the terrorist threat along their shared borders. They agreed that this threat constitutes a major obstacle to the implementation of joint development projects. The insecurity in the Sahel region, exacerbated by jihadist groups, has led to intensified security cooperation measures.

Political tensions between the two countries also influenced the discussions. Nigerian Minister Mohammed Idris reiterated calls for the release of former Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held by the military junta since his overthrow in 2023. Following its withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Niger has strengthened its ties with Burkina Faso and Mali, forming the Sahel States Alliance (AES) and moving closer to Russia.

Manila plans to expand gas and renewable energy production to meet a 6.6% increase in electricity demand over the next two years.
Ottawa and London increased bilateral exchanges to structure strategic cooperation on nuclear energy and critical minerals supply chains, as part of Canada’s G7 presidency.
Donald Trump says he secured Narendra Modi’s commitment to end Russian oil imports, adding political pressure to India-Russia trade relations.
Under intense diplomatic pressure from Washington, member states of the International Maritime Organization agreed to postpone by one year the adoption of a carbon pricing mechanism for global maritime transport.
Washington confirms it has mandated the CIA to carry out secret actions against Nicolas Maduro’s government, escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela amid geostrategic and energy stakes.
Two European Parliament committees propose to advance the full halt of Russian hydrocarbon imports to 2026 and 2027, including oil, gas, and LNG, strengthening the European Union’s geopolitical position.
The COP30 conference hosted in the Amazon by Brazil faces low participation from global leaders, amid geopolitical tensions and major logistical challenges.
The United States has granted Trinidad and Tobago a special licence to resume negotiations with Venezuela on the Dragon gas field, partially lifting restrictions imposed on the Venezuelan energy sector.
Ambassadors of European Union member states have approved the transmission of a legislative proposal to phase out Russian fossil fuel imports by January 2028 to the Council of Ministers.
The State Duma has approved Russia’s formal withdrawal from a treaty signed with the United States on the elimination of military-grade plutonium, ending over two decades of strategic nuclear cooperation.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was not in Poland’s interest to extradite to Germany a Ukrainian citizen suspected of taking part in the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022.
Al-Harfi and SCLCO signed agreements with Syrian authorities to develop solar and wind capacity, amid an ongoing energy rapprochement between Riyadh and Damascus.
Faced with risks to Middle Eastern supply chains, Thai and Japanese refiners are turning to US crude, backed by tariff incentives and strategies aligned with ongoing bilateral trade discussions.
France intercepted a tanker linked to Russian exports, prompting Emmanuel Macron to call for a coordinated European response to hinder vessels bypassing oil sanctions.
The activation of the snapback mechanism reinstates all UN sanctions on Iran, directly affecting the defence, financial and maritime trade sectors.
Commissioner Dan Jørgensen visits Greenland to expand energy ties with the European Union, amid plans to double EU funding for the 2028–2034 period.
European and Iranian foreign ministers meet in New York to try to prevent the reinstatement of UN sanctions linked to Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announces a bilateral agreement with Mexico including targeted investments in energy corridors, logistics infrastructure and cross-border security.
The US president has called for an immediate end to Russian oil imports by NATO countries, denouncing a strategic contradiction as sanctions against Moscow are being considered.
Tehran withdrew a resolution denouncing attacks on its nuclear facilities, citing US pressure on IAEA members who feared suspension of Washington’s voluntary contributions.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.