Nigeria and Niger have officially resumed diplomatic dialogue following a breakdown in relations after Niger’s 2023 military coup. At a high-level meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and Nigerien counterpart Mohammed Sani Usman pledged renewed cooperation on cross-border security, economic integration, and the revival of the Niger-Nigeria Joint Commission, which has been dormant since the coup.
Talks addressed Niger’s recent withdrawal from the Multinational Joint Task Force, replaced by its local “Nalewa Dole” operation, and emphasized the need for joint strategies to combat insecurity and terrorism in the region. The meeting also followed Niger’s January 2025 exit from ECOWAS, alongside Mali and Burkina Faso, a move that has reshaped West Africa’s political landscape.
Both sides committed to strengthening trade, energy cooperation, and regional stability, while reaffirming their historical and cultural ties.
