Niger Republic has turned to Nigeria for assistance as it grapples with a severe fuel shortage, despite months of strained diplomatic relations.
News Bulletin has learned that a delegation of senior officials from Niger’s ruling military junta travelled to Abuja to meet with representatives of the Nigerian government.
Following their discussions, 300 trucks of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were reportedly approved for delivery to Niger.
A senior Nigerian government official confirmed that the approval was granted with the hope of using it as leverage in ongoing negotiations with Niger. The official explained that Niger had relied on fuel from a Chinese-operated refinery, but supply disruptions led to its shutdown, leaving the country with limited alternatives.
As the fuel shortage worsened, Niger reached out to Nigeria for support. However, the specifics of the agreement remain undisclosed.
“We don’t want to publicize it. Instead, we see this as a bargaining chip to encourage Niger’s return to ECOWAS,” the source stated.
“The country lacks sufficient resources to sustain its citizens through food imports, so increased reliance on Nigeria could eventually bring them back into the regional bloc.”
Officials from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) suggested that the deal was likely orchestrated by the Presidency, as NNPCL now operates as an independent entity. Similarly, a source at Dangote Petroleum Refinery declined to comment due to the diplomatic sensitivities surrounding the issue.
Niger’s Fuel Shortage Worsens
Reports indicate that Niger’s fuel crisis escalated last week, with petrol prices soaring to N8,000 per litre in some regions.
Investigations by News Bulletin in Sokoto State, which borders Niger, revealed fluctuating fuel prices based on distance from Nigeria.
A Nigerian transborder businessman, Mallam Abubakar Usman, shared insights into the dire situation:
“There is a severe fuel shortage in Niger. Prices vary depending on location.
In Konni, a border town, a litre of petrol costs 1,200 CFA (about N2,500).
In Agadez, the price jumps to 3,000 CFA (approximately N7,500 per litre).
In Arlit, near the Niger-Algeria border, it reaches 3,500 CFA (around N8,750).”
He attributed the crisis partly to deteriorating relations between Nigeria and Niger.
An official from the Nigerian Immigration Service confirmed that trucks carrying petrol were spotted crossing into Niger, signalling the start of fuel deliveries.
Rift with Chinese Oil Companies Deepens Crisis
Niger’s fuel crisis appears self-inflicted following tensions between the military junta and Chinese oil firms, which have historically dominated its petroleum sector.
Security analyst Zagazola Makama revealed in an article that problems began in March 2024, when the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) extended a $400 million advance to Niger’s government, using future crude oil deliveries as collateral.
This financial arrangement was intended to help Niger mitigate the economic sanctions imposed by ECOWAS after the July 2023 coup. However, when the time came for repayment, Niger’s junta lacked the funds.
Instead of negotiating, the military rulers reportedly retaliated by:
Imposing an $80 billion tax on Soraz (Zinder Refinery Company)
Seizing Soraz’s bank accounts, despite Niger’s state-owned Sonidep owing the refinery $250 billion
When China refused further financial assistance, Niger expelled Chinese oil executives, causing the country’s petroleum sector to collapse.
The Soraz refinery, crucial to Niger’s fuel supply, shut down, triggering nationwide fuel shortages.
Nigeria Steps In to Help Despite Hostile Rhetoric
Despite strained relations, Nigeria has stepped up to support Niger. The move comes despite Niger’s military leader, Brig. Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani previously accused Nigeria of working with France to destabilize his country.
In December 2024, Tchiani claimed, in a Hausa-language broadcast, that Nigeria and France were backing the terror group Lakurawa and planning to establish a terrorist training camp near Sokoto. Nigeria’s Federal Government dismissed these allegations as baseless.
Further tensions arose in February 2025, when Niger denied entry to Nigerians carrying ECOWAS passports.
Despite these diplomatic clashes, Nigeria quietly provided fuel to help ease Niger’s crisis.
Makama noted that Niger’s state media deliberately avoided reporting the source of the fuel, instead portraying its availability as a result of the junta’s own efforts.
“Fuel shipments from Nigeria have started to ease the crisis, yet Niger’s government refuses to acknowledge its dependence on Nigerian supplies,” Makama wrote.
Nigeria Supplies 13.5 Million Litres of Petrol
Oil marketers estimate that the 300 tanker trucks approved for Niger amount to 13.5 million litres of petrol.
Marketers also insist that Nigeria has sufficient fuel reserves to support Niger without affecting local supply. With production from Dangote Refinery, Port Harcourt Refinery, and fuel imports, they believe Nigeria can meet both domestic and regional needs.
The National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Hammed Fashola, acknowledged the fuel crisis in Niger but expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to assist.
“With the refineries we have, Nigeria has enough capacity to supply Niger,” he said.
Similarly, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, agreed that Nigeria could afford to support its neighbour.
“If there’s a diplomatic reason for it, we can certainly do it,” he stated.
Despite diplomatic tensions, accusations, and previous hostilities, Nigeria has stepped in to alleviate Niger’s fuel crisis.
While the junta remains reluctant to acknowledge its reliance on Nigeria, this move positions Nigeria as a strategic power player in regional diplomacy.
