Niger Republic has sought assistance from Nigeria in the face of a severe fuel shortage, despite months of strained diplomatic relations. A high-level delegation from Niger, including senior officials of the military junta, traveled to Abuja to meet with representatives of the Nigerian government.
Following the discussions, Nigeria agreed to send 300 trucks of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to Niger. A senior government official indicated that the decision was made strategically, hoping to use the arrangement as leverage in ongoing negotiations with Niger.
The Nigerien delegation explained that the country had previously relied on a Chinese refinery for fuel, but due to issues with the supplier, the refinery was shut down, leaving the nation with few options. Niger turned to Nigeria when the fuel crisis became critical, though the specifics of the arrangement remain confidential.
The official emphasized that the deal was not to be publicized, as it is seen as a tool for negotiation to encourage Niger to rejoin the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It was suggested that the pressure from the fuel shortage might eventually push Niger to rejoin ECOWAS, as the country lacks the resources to import enough food for its population.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) was not directly involved in the negotiations, as the national oil company now operates as a limited liability entity. Sources from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery declined to comment, citing diplomatic concerns.
Fuel prices in Niger skyrocketed to N8,000 per litre in some areas last week, with varying prices depending on proximity to Nigeria. A transborder Nigerian businessman, Mallam Abubakar Usman, explained that the fuel crisis was exacerbated by the deteriorating relationship between Niger and Nigeria.
The root of the crisis lies in a dispute between the Nigerien junta and Chinese oil companies. In March 2024, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) granted Niger a $400 million advance, using future crude deliveries as collateral. When the junta struggled to repay the debt, it escalated the situation by imposing an $80 billion tax on Soraz, the refinery operator, despite the fact that Soraz already owed $250 billion to the state-owned Sonidep.
This confrontation led to the expulsion of Chinese oil executives and the seizure of Soraz’s bank accounts, causing the collapse of Niger’s petroleum sector and fueling the current fuel shortage.
Despite ongoing tensions, Nigeria has stepped in to alleviate the crisis. A security analyst revealed that Nigeria has been sending fuel to Niger, although the Nigerien government has avoided acknowledging this, claiming that the fuel availability is a result of their own internal measures.
Nigeria’s oil marketers, however, confirmed the 300-truck deal, which amounts to 13.5 million litres of petrol. They stated that Nigeria has the capacity to meet both domestic and regional fuel needs, especially with the increased capacity of the country’s refineries.
Oil marketers such as the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, assured that Nigeria has enough resources to assist Niger without risking its own fuel supply.
The situation highlights how fuel supply can serve as both a humanitarian aid and a strategic political tool in the complex dynamics between Niger and Nigeria.
