BREAKING: Nigerian government official apology to Burkina Faso for violating its airspace

The Federal Republic of Nigeria dispatched its Minister of Foreign Affairs to the President of Burkina Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

The President of Faso, Head of State, His Excellency Captain Ibrahim TRAORÉ, received in audience, this Wednesday, December 17, 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Yusuf Maitama TUGGAR.

Upon leaving the audience, the Nigerian Minister indicated that he was carrying 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 talked about the Nigerian aircraft that had 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, while offering “apologies for this unfortunate incident.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs condemned the remarks of a Nigerian political party official who made “unwholesome comments” claiming that Nigerian soldiers were being mistreated in Burkina Faso. “We disassociate ourselves from these remarks and offer our sincere apologies to the government of Burkina Faso,” Minister Tuggar reiterated.

The Nigerian foreign minister praised the spirit of fraternity shown by President Traoré and his government in taking care of the occupants of the aircraft who are still on Burkinabe soil.

“We exchanged views on other issues concerning how we can collaborate, as well as with other countries in our region, to combat terrorism. And Burkina Faso has recorded significant successes in the fight against terrorism,” said the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Source: Communications Department of the Presidency of Burkina Faso