Minister Tuggar Moves to Rebuild Nigeria, Niger Republic Mutual Ties
Nigeria and Niger Republic have taken significant steps to strengthen bilateral ties during the official working visit of Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, to Niamey yesterday.
The visit, held at the initiative of both governments, marked a pivotal moment in the long-standing relationship between the two neighboring countries.
Ambassador Tuggar was warmly received by his Nigerien counterpart, Bakary Yaou Sangaré.
During comprehensive and cordial discussions, the two ministers conducted a wide-ranging review of pressing bilateral and regional issues.
They examined challenges and opportunities in areas of mutual interest including trade, infrastructure, security, and development.
The two countries deliberated on various issues of mutual interest that would foster closer relations amongst the people and government of Niger and Nigeria.
Some of the concerns raised were the renewed commitment to revitalise the Nigeria-Niger Joint Commission (NNJC), which would further consolidate the gains made so far.
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Furthermore, the two parties emphasized the need to strengthen economic cooperation especially in operationalization of cross-border markets, trade and energy, the Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi railway, the construction of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, Trans-Saharan Highway, Trans-Saharan Fiber Optic, Bilateral Air Services, local bilateral committees, micro-diplomacy, tariffs and taxes, desertification, good neighborliness policies, migration, tourism, education, new information and communication technologies, agriculture and livestock farming, and infrastructure.
In this regard, the two Ministers agreed to cooperate and follow up on these issues through the NNJC as soon as possible.
During their discussions, the two Ministers welcomed the quality of the relations of fraternity, friendship, cooperation, and good neighborliness that bind Niger and Nigeria, and reaffirmed their shared desire to boost and energize bilateral cooperation between the two countries, to raise it to the level of their ambitions and the legitimate expectations of their respective peoples, who aspire to peace, security, and development.
On the security front, the two Ministers noted the terrorist threat raging along the border between the two countries, which constitutes a real obstacle to the effective implementation of all development programs initiated by the governments of their countries.
Therefore, the two ministers called on the ministries of defense of both countries to continue their security cooperation.
