Niger Republic has turned to Nigeria for assistance following a crippling fuel shortage, despite recent diplomatic tensions between the two neighboring nations.
Sources revealed to The PUNCH that a high-level delegation from Niger’s military junta traveled to Abuja to engage with representatives of the Nigerian government. After deliberations, Nigeria reportedly approved the delivery of 300 trucks of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to Niger.
A senior Nigerian government official, familiar with the development, stated that the deal was approved with strategic intentions, as Nigeria aims to use it as a “bargaining tool” in ongoing negotiations with Niger.
According to the official, Niger had been relying on fuel imports from a Chinese refinery. However, disruptions in supply led to the refinery shutting down, leaving the country in a dire situation. As the crisis worsened, the Nigerien government reached out to Nigeria for emergency fuel supply, though the specifics of the arrangement remain undisclosed.
Officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) indicated that such a deal would likely have been brokered by the Presidency, as the national oil company now operates as a limited liability entity. Similarly, a source at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery declined to comment, citing diplomatic sensitivities.
