Traoré Receives President Tinubu’s Delegation Led by Ambassador Tuggar, Reaffirms Commitment to Stronger Nigeria–Burkina Faso Relations
Oru Leonard
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dispatched a high-powered delegation to Burkina Faso, led by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar. On Wednesday, Ambassador Tuggar delivered a message of solidarity and fraternity from President Tinubu to the President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, as both sides considered avenues for deepening bilateral relations and strengthening integration within the regional bloc.
Talks held in Ouagadougou centred on advancing political, security, and economic cooperation, with particular emphasis on coordinated responses to regional security challenges and collective action through existing sub-regional frameworks. In the same spirit of constructive engagement, the two governments amicably resolved the issue concerning Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew, reinforcing mutual confidence and highlighting the effectiveness of dialogue in addressing sensitive matters.
President Traoré welcomed the Nigerian delegation and conveyed his appreciation to President Tinubu for the message of goodwill. He underscored the long-standing ties between Nigeria and Burkina Faso and emphasized the importance of closer collaboration, particularly in addressing shared security and development challenges across the Sahel and the wider West African region.
Ambassador Tuggar reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to good neighbourliness and sustained engagement with Burkina Faso, noting that Nigeria remains firmly supportive of initiatives aimed at strengthening regional cohesion, peace, and economic integration. He reiterated President Tinubu’s readiness to work closely with Burkina Faso in advancing stability and development.
Both sides agreed to sustain regular consultations and pursue practical measures to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration, reflecting a shared resolve to promote peace, unity, and stability in the sub-region.
The delegation also met with the detained crew who were in high spirits.
Members of the Nigerian delegation included Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency; Air Vice Marshal A. Y. Abdullahi, Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Air Force; Ambassador Olawale Emmanuel Awe, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS; and Ambassador Wahab Akande, Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(HMFA Media)
