Niger Republic, facing a severe fuel shortage due to a series of diplomatic and economic missteps, has turned to Nigeria for assistance. Despite months of tense relations and rhetoric between the two nations, Niger reached out for help, and Nigeria responded with a significant offer: 300 trucks of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), approximately 13.5 million litres of fuel, to alleviate the crisis.
A senior Nigerian government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the decision to send the fuel was strategically motivated. It was seen as a potential bargaining tool to encourage Niger's return to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the military junta's coup in 2023. This diplomatic outreach comes amid escalating fuel prices in Niger, where a litre of petrol had reportedly risen to N8,000 in some areas due to the refinery shutdown.
Niger had relied heavily on Chinese oil companies, particularly the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the Soraz refinery in Zinder. However, following a falling-out between the Nigerien junta and Chinese companies over unpaid debts and unfulfilled contracts, the refinery ceased operations, plunging the country into fuel shortages.
The fuel shipment from Nigeria follows a series of diplomatic standoffs, including accusations by Niger's Head of State, Brig. Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, claiming that Nigeria had colluded with France to destabilize his country through terrorism. Despite these tensions, Nigeria proceeded with the fuel aid, with oil marketers in Nigeria confirming the country's ability to provide for its neighbor without jeopardizing domestic supplies.
Marketers also indicated that Nigeria's oil production capacity, bolstered by local refineries such as the Dangote and Port Harcourt refineries, could support both domestic needs and the fuel aid to Niger without causing a supply crisis at home.
The Nigerien junta has attempted to downplay the fuel shipments, with state media refraining from acknowledging Nigeria's role in alleviating the crisis. However, there are growing concerns among the public in Niger about the accuracy of the government's claims regarding the source of the fuel.
The deal, which involves the delivery of 300 trucks of PMS, highlights the complex relationship between the two nations and the role of strategic diplomacy in regional stability. As the Nigerien government grapples with its internal fuel shortages, Nigeria remains a crucial partner in ensuring the nation's energy needs are met, while also using the fuel aid as leverage in the ongoing negotiations surrounding Niger's return to ECOWAS.
