Nigeria on Wednesday reinforced its commitment to regional unity and diplomacy as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, delivered a personal message of solidarity and brotherhood from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou.
The meeting, held at the Burkinabè capital, provided an opportunity for both countries to review their long-standing relationship and explore fresh avenues for strengthening bilateral ties and regional cooperation, particularly in the areas of security and counter-terrorism.
Briefing journalists after the engagement, Tuggar said the discussions were guided by shared history and common security challenges confronting both nations, stressing that the visit was aimed at deepening trust and good neighbourliness.
According to him, talks covered cooperation across multiple sectors, including a frank exchange on the recent Nigerian aircraft that made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso.
The foreign minister acknowledged that there were procedural lapses in the clearance process for the aircraft’s entry into Burkinabè airspace, conveying Nigeria’s regret over the incident while reaffirming Abuja’s respect for Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and international aviation rules.
Tuggar also used the occasion to distance the Federal Government from comments attributed to a Nigerian political party official who alleged mistreatment of Nigerian military personnel in Burkina Faso.
“We have completely dissociated ourselves from those remarks and have formally expressed our regrets to the Burkinabè authorities,” he said.
He praised President Traoré and his administration for what he described as their spirit of fraternity and the considerate treatment extended to the aircraft’s crew and passengers during their stay in the country.
Beyond bilateral matters, the discussions also touched on wider regional security efforts, with Tuggar noting Burkina Faso’s recent progress in combating terrorism and violent extremism.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to sustain dialogue, promote regional solidarity and work closely with Burkina Faso and other neighbouring countries to confront shared security threats across the sub-region.
Source:@ZagazolaMakama
