In a demonstration of neighbourly solidarity, the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the delivery of 300 trucks of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to the Niger Republic, which is currently grappling with a severe fuel shortage. This decision comes despite months of diplomatic tensions and hostile rhetoric between the two nations.
Nigeria and Niger, neighbouring countries in West Africa, share a long-standing relationship rooted in socio-cultural affiliations. The two nations have a common border, shared languages, and cultural practices, which have fostered a strong bond between their peoples.
According to senior government officials, Niger had been reliant on fuel from a Chinese refinery, but issues with the supplier led to the refinery’s shutdown, leaving the country with limited options. The fuel crisis in Niger reached alarming proportions last week, with petrol prices soaring to N8,000 per litre in some regions. The situation has imperilled socio-economic activities in Niger, causing hardship for the country’s over 27 million population.
Part of the crisis is believed to have been self-inflicted, resulting from a confrontation between Niger’s junta and Chinese oil companies. The junta’s decision to impose an $80 billion tax demand on the Zinder Refinery Company and the seizure of its bank accounts led to the collapse of Niger’s petroleum sector.
Analysts have also attributed the energy crisis in the Niger Republic to Nigeria’s decision to withdraw subsidy on premium motor spirit, PMS. Before the government of President Tinubu introduced the policy, the smuggling of petrol across the Nigeria-Niger border, driven by lower fuel prices under the subsidy regime in Nigeria, was one of the main sources of fuel in Niger. The withdrawal of subsidy discouraged smuggling and cut off this supply chain. With the policy, it became unprofitable for unscrupulous business people to continue smuggling petrol from Nigeria to Niger Republic.
Nigeria’s decision to provide fuel aid is seen as a strategic move to encourage Niger’s return to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Niger is one of the four West African countries that withdrew their membership from the regional bloc following the ECOWAS condemnation of military interventions in those countries. A military putsch on July 23, 2023, ousted the government of President Mohammed Bazoum, with ECOWAS insisting that the military government has become outdated. The extent to which Nigeria’s intervention in the energy crisis in Niger Republic will go in changing the mind of commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani towards ECOWAS will be known in the coming days.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has facilitated the fuel delivery, which is expected to ease the crisis in Niger.
While the government in the Niger Republic has been reluctant to acknowledge its reliance on Nigeria, the move positions Nigeria as a regional power player in West African diplomacy. The development also highlights the complex dynamics of regional politics, where economic and humanitarian considerations often intersect with strategic interests.
This gesture underscores the importance of regional cooperation and solidarity. Nigeria’s actions demonstrate its commitment to supporting its neighbours in times of need, while also promoting stability and economic growth in the region.
As neighbouring countries with a shared history and cultural heritage, Nigeria and Niger have a responsibility to support each other. This fuel aid package lends credence to the strong bonds between the two nations and their peoples.
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