AUDIENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT OF FASO
The Federal Republic of Nigeria dispatches its Minister of Foreign Affairs to the President of Faso.
- Nigeria’s official apologies to Burkina Faso for violating its airspace
- Efforts in the fight against terrorism commended
(Ouagadougou, 17 December 2025). The President of Faso, Head of State, His Excellency Captain Ibrahim TRAORÉ, received in audience on Wednesday afternoon the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Yusuf Maitama TUGGAR.
Upon leaving the meeting, the Nigerian Minister stated that he was the bearer of a message of “solidarity and fraternity” from President Ahmed Bola TINUBU to his counterpart, Captain Ibrahim TRAORÉ.
“We discussed cooperation issues in several sectors. We also spoke about the Nigerian aircraft that was forced to make an emergency landing in Burkina Faso,” said Minister Yusuf Maitama TUGGAR.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria regrets the irregularities in the authorization procedure to enter Burkina Faso’s airspace and offers its “apologies for this unfortunate incident.”
Nigeria distances itself from disparaging remarks about Burkina Faso
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said he condemns the statements made by a Nigerian political party official, who made “inappropriate comments” by claiming that Nigerian soldiers were mistreated in Burkina Faso. “We distance ourselves from these remarks and extend our sincere apologies to the Government of Burkina Faso,” Minister TUGGAR reiterated.
The head of Nigerian diplomacy praised the spirit of fraternity demonstrated by President TRAORÉ and his government in the care provided to the occupants of the aircraft, who are still on Burkinabè soil.
“We also discussed other issues regarding how we can collaborate, as well as with other countries in our region, to combat terrorism. Burkina Faso has recorded significant successes in the fight against terrorism,” said the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Directorate of Communication of the Presidency of Faso
SEIZED NIGERIA AIR FORCE C-130 CREW CONTINUES MISSION FROM BURKINA FASO TO PORTUGAL
The Nigerian Air Force C-130 crew, earlier detained in Burkina Faso and released on Thursday, has continued its mission from the country to Portugal with the same aircraft.
The crew, comprising 11 Nigerian personnel, was on a mission to Portugal for scheduled aircraft maintenance when it made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso.
The emergency landing, which occurred in Bobo-Dioulasso on Dec. 8, 2025, was described as a precautionary measure following a technical issue with the aircraft.
The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the crew resumed its journey to Portugal after engagements between Nigerian and Burkina Faso authorities.
Ebienfa said the release of the crew followed diplomatic interventions by a high-powered Nigerian delegation dispatched to Burkina Faso by President Bola Tinubu.
The delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, and included the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Mohammed Mohammed; the Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal A. Y. Abdullahi; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Amb. Olawale Awe; and the Chief of Protocol in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Wahab Akande.
