Niger Republic seeks help from Nigeria amid fuel shortage
Niger Republic seeks help from Nigeria amid fuel shortage
Niger Republic turns to Nigeria for help amid a severe fuel shortage, despite months of diplomatic tensions and hostile rhetoric between the two countries. A delegation of senior officials from Niger’s military junta traveled to Abuja to meet with Federal Government representatives, resulting in the approval of 300 trucks of Premium Motor Spirit for delivery to Niger.
According to a senior government official, Nigeria approved the deal with the hope of using it as a “strategic bargaining tool” in ongoing negotiations with Niger. The official revealed that Niger had been reliant on fuel from a Chinese refinery, but due to issues with the supplier, the refinery was shut down, leaving Niger with limited options.
Niger’s fuel crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with petrol prices skyrocketing to as high as N8,750 per liter in some areas. The situation has forced the military junta to swallow its pride and seek help from Nigeria, despite its previous accusations that Nigeria was plotting against it.
Nigeria’s decision to provide fuel to Niger is seen as a strategic move to improve diplomatic relations and bring Niger back into the ECOWAS fold. A senior government official stated, “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”.
The details of the arrangement are being kept secret, but officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited suggested that the deal could have been done by the Presidency, given the national oil firm’s new status as a limited liability company.
