One of the measured moves by Nigeria in its foreign relations was in an attempt to ease some of the tensions it had with Burkina Faso, as it sent its Foreign Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, to Ouagadougou.
On the 17th of December, 2025, the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, received the Foreign Minister of the Nigerian nation at the palace of the President in a frank and brotherly manner. Tuggar said he was carrying a message of solidarity from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, emphasizing that Nigeria values its long-standing relationship with Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel region.
At the center of the meeting was the recent incident involving a Nigerian military aircraft that made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso after irregularities in airspace authorization. Tuggar acknowledged the lapse, expressing Nigeria’s regret over the violation of Burkinabè airspace and offering a formal apology to the government and people of Burkina Faso.
According to the Nigerian Foreign Minister, the issue was addressed openly. He praised the Burkinabè authorities for the calm and humane manner in which they handled the situation, particularly the care given to the aircraft’s occupants who remained temporarily on Burkinabè soil. He described the response as a clear demonstration of regional brotherhood at a time when tensions could easily have escalated.
Tuggar also used the meeting to distance the Nigerian government from comments made by a Nigerian political party official, who had alleged that Nigerian military personnel were mistreated in Burkina Faso. He condemned those remarks as irresponsible and unhealthy, stressing that they did not reflect the position of the Nigerian state. Once again, he offered apologies, underscoring Nigeria’s respect for Burkina Faso’s leadership and sovereignty.
Beyond the direct incident, the talks went to broader regional interests, especially regarding their efforts against terrorism. The Nigerian delegation took note of Burkina Faso’s recent gains over extremist groups, saying Tuggar commended the Traoré-led government for what he called “significant successes” under difficult circumstances. They said that the need for close collaboration among West African states is a constant issue, as the threats posed by terrorists and cross-border crime do not respect national boundaries.
The visit ended on a conciliatory note, where both parties committed to the deepening of collaboration in security, diplomacy, and other sectors. To observers, the meeting was a deliberate attempt by Nigeria to ensure a single incident did not damage relations at a time when unity in the region is already under strain.
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The tensions had arisen after reports that a Nigerian military aircraft entered the Burkinabè airspace without clearance and was made to make an emergency landing. This triggered public debate and political commentaries across Nigeria, with claims of poor treatment of Nigerian personnel. Burkinabè authorities denied these claims, which were later disowned by Nigeria’s government. The mission to Ouagadougou was to close that page, regain trust and re-enshrine cooperation between two countries in need of each other against a shared security challenges amidst a fragile regional climate.
