Nigeria has formally apologized to Burkina Faso following the emergency landing of a Nigerian military aircraft in Bobo Dioulasso last week, without prior permission. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar delivered, on 17 December, the apology during a meeting at the Presidential palace in Ouagadougou with President Captain Ibrahim Traoré and Burkina Faso’s Minister of Defense, conveying a message of “solidarity and brotherhood” from President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
The discussions focused on the irregularities surrounding the aircraft’s flight and landing. Tuggar described the incident as “unfortunate” and confirmed that the 11 crew members remain in Burkina Faso, where they are reportedly being “well treated.”
Details regarding the crew’s release or the return of the aircraft were not provided. The meeting underscores diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation amicably and maintain cordial relations between the two neighbouring West African countries.