Burkina Faso releases 11 Air Force personnel after high-level Nigerian delegation visit

 

Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots and crew members nine days after their detention, following high-level diplomatic intervention by the Nigerian government, easing tensions that had threatened to escalate into a wider diplomatic dispute between the two West African neighbours.

The release came shortly after a Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, concluded engagements in Ouagadougou, including talks with Burkina Faso’s military leader, President Ibrahim Traoré.

The delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and NAF Headquarters, and was mandated to pursue a peaceful resolution through dialogue.

According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, who cited a senior official familiar with the mission, the talks focused on de-escalation, confidence-building and securing the release of the detained personnel, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to international aviation rules, military protocols and regional cooperation.

The official said the visit showed Nigeria’s preference for diplomacy and neighbourly engagement, describing it as a deliberate effort to strengthen trust and reaffirm shared responsibilities in addressing the Sahel’s complex security challenges.

Sahel insecurity raises diplomatic stakes

The incident unfolded against a fragile regional backdrop marked by rising insecurity and political instability across the Sahel.

Military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have withdrawn from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), straining relations with countries like Nigeria that remain committed to the regional bloc.

Burkina Faso initially detained eleven military personnel who were all aboard the Nigerian Air Force C‑130 aircraft after it made an emergency landing in Bobo‑Dioulasso without prior airspace clearance, a move that Burkinabè authorities described as a violation of sovereignty.

The Nigerian Air Force said the landing was a precautionary emergency stop due to a technical issue and was conducted in accordance with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.

Tensions have been compounded by recent security scares, including a reported botched coup attempt in Benin, reflecting the volatiliy of the region.

Against this backdrop, the detention of Nigerian military personnel risked escalating into a diplomatic standoff, particularly given lingering frictions following the AES states’ exit from ECOWAS.

Speaking after the meeting, Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said Nigeria and Burkina Faso shared longstanding ties and common security concerns, noting that the engagement was aimed at reinforcing mutual understanding and neighbourly relations.

“We exchanged views on cooperation in several sectors. We also discussed the Nigerian aircraft that made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso,” Tuggar said.

He acknowledged procedural irregularities in the authorisation process for the aircraft’s entry into Burkinabè airspace, expressing Nigeria’s regret over the incident while emphasising Abuja’s respect for Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and international aviation protocols.

The minister also distanced the Federal Government from remarks by a Nigerian political party official alleging maltreatment of Nigerian military personnel in Burkina Faso.

“We clearly dissociate ourselves from those comments and express our sincere regrets to the government of Burkina Faso,” Tuggar said.

Analysts say the swift diplomatic engagement helped defuse tensions and prevented the episode from becoming a flashpoint in Nigeria–Burkina Faso relations, noting the two countries’ history of cooperation on security and counterterrorism.

By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa

President Tinubu nominates new oil regulators after chiefs resign amid Dangote dispute

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm two new heads for Nigeria's oil and gas regulators after their predecessors abruptly quit, amid a high stakes clash between one agency and Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote.

Tinubu's nominations follow the exit of Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and Farouk Ahmed, head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

Dangote has accused Ahmed of allowing the entry of cut-price fuel imports that threaten local refineries, including his 650,000-barrel-per-day Lagos plant, Africa's largest.

Dangote on Wednesday submitted a petition against Ahmed with one of Nigeria's antigraft agencies - the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Komolafe, who recently launched an oil block auction, has clashed with Dangote over failure to enforce a law requiring producers to prioritize local refineries.

The shake-up comes at a critical moment for Africa's top oil producer, where regulatory uncertainty and supply fears have dominated headlines since Dangote lodged a formal petition against Ahmed, citing governance concerns and claims of personal spending beyond declared income.

Analysts say the resignations are unlikely to have a major impact on the sector. Komolafe’s proposed successor, Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan, a former NNPC executive, spent more than three decades at the state oil company, including heading one of its subsidiaries.

Farouk’s replacement, Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, was named today as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy. With over 37 years of experience, he previously led an NNPC division and helped draft Nigeria’s Gas Master Plan.

"I don't think in either case, these resignations would adversely affect investor confidence," said Ayodele Oni, an energy lawyer and partner at Lagos-based Bloomfield law firm.

By Camillus Eboh, Tife Owolabi and Isaac Anyaogu, Reuters

Video - Nigeria’s Afro Hair Festival celebrates culture and creativity

The Afro Hair Festival in Abuja showcased the beauty and cultural significance of Afro-textured hair, highlighted by an elaborate styling competition. Organizers say the event aims to promote healthy hair practices and encourage pride in natural African hair.

CGTN Africa

Nigeria files World Cup complaint to FIFA over Congo DR

Nigeria are hoping to revive their hopes of appearing at the 2026 World Cup with complaint to FIFA over the use of up to nine ineligible players by Congo DR in their qualifying playoff last month.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) join Cameroon, who had initially filed a similar complaint to FIFA about the eligibility of some of the players who were born in Europe but switched nationalities to represent Congo internationally.

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The Super Eagles lost 4-3 on penalties to Congo DR in the final of the CAF Playoffs on Nov. 16, which meant the Congolese advanced to the FIFA intercontinental playoffs.

Congo DR have been drawn to play the winners of the semifinal between New Caledonia and Jamaica, with the victors in the final earning one of the final spots at next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

But the NFF are now challenging DRC's use of several dual nationality players during the World Cup qualifying series, claiming they were ineligible on the basis of not being properly cleared to switch nationalities.

Reports have claimed that between six to nine players used by Congo DR during the qualifiers may have switched international allegiances, but may not have gone through the process of giving up their European passports in line with Congolese law before representing the country.

"The Congolese rules say you cannot have dual nationality," NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi told reporters on Tuesday. "There are so many of them that have European passports, some of them French passports, some of them Dutch passports. The rules are very clear. We cannot say anything now but we have submitted our protest to FIFA.

"There are players that got theirs in just three months. So there is to us, what is considered as a breach of the regulation. That is why took that decision."

While the Congolese Constitution does not recognize dual citizenship, FIFA's own regulations only require players to hold the passports of the representative country in order to be cleared to play for that country and it was on the basis of holding valid Congolese passports that FIFA cleared the players to play.

All the players involved hold Congolese passports, but Sanusi claims that FIFA were deceived into issuing those clearances

"The FIFA rules are different from DR Congo rules, that is why FIFA cleared them," he said. "FIFA Regulations say once you have the passport of your country, you are eligible. As far as we are concerned, they are eligible that is why they are cleared by FIFA.

"But our contention is that FIFA was deceived into clearing them because it is not the responsibility of FIFA to make sure that the regulations of Congo are abided by. FIFA goes by its own regulations, and it was on the basis of what was presented to FIFA that they cleared them. But we are saying that it was fraudulent."

FIFA has yet to respond to the complaint, but NFF officials told ESPN that the issue is being investigated by world football's governing body and a decision is expected before the intercontinental playoffs in March.

It is unclear if this appeal will be successful, but if it is, it would provide the Super Eagles a pathway back into World Cup qualifying, their second in the same series.

During the previous round, South Africa were sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player and docked three points, but Nigeria failed to take advantage and ultimately finished second in the group behind Bafana Bafana.

By Colin Udoh, ESPN

Dangote says that he wants every Nigerian to make money off him

 

In an interview with the press, Dangote gave an impassioned breakdown of the motives behind listing the $20 billion oil.

He noted that he intends to make every Nigerian a direct owner of the multi-billion-dollar facility.

According to Dangote, the listing is less about control and more about legacy, ensuring that ordinary Nigerians benefit from the refinery’s long-term success.

What Dangote said

“At the moment, our main interest is to list on the exchange, so that every living Nigerian can own part of the refinery,” he stated.

“Somebody asked me a question, is it 5 or 10 percent you want to sell, and I said that when we are going to sell the shares, we will not put a cap, if they happen to buy 55% and I own 45%, so be it,” he added.

When asked explicitly if the offer extended beyond Nigerians living in the country, Dangote simply said, "Yes."

Dangote described the refinery as a legacy project, emphasizing that widespread ownership will give Nigerians a direct stake in its success.

“The thing is about legacy, I want Nigerians to own this, and I want every single Nigerian, when the refinery does well, for them to always be able to rely on the profit of that refinery,” he said.

“The main point is for us to sell to every living Nigerian who has something, even if it's ten shares you buy or 20,” he continued.

Dangote provided another crucial assurance to potential investors by revealing that dividends will be paid in US dollars.

To him, this ensures that Nigerians in the diaspora also get a piece of the pie.

“We are going to make sure that we pay the dividend in dollars, because a major chunk of ourselves is in dollars.”

Dangote’s original plan to list the refinery

In July, Nigeria’s top billionaire announced during the Global Commodity Insights Conference on West African Refined Fuel Markets in Abuja, which was co-hosted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and S&P Global Insights, that he intends to sell shares of his 650,000 barrels per day refinery.

According to the billionaire businessman, plans are already underway to list the refinery on the stock exchange, allowing Nigerians, both people and institutions, to participate in and profit from the facility's potential long-term growth.

“Very soon, the refinery will be listed to give all Nigerians the opportunity to become shareholders. We are open to partnerships with African governments, private investors, and regional institutions. Our vision is simple but ambitious,” Dangote said at the time.

“Africa should refine all the petroleum products it consumes right here on the soil of Africa.”

By Chinedu Okafor, Business Insider Africa