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Niger’s Junta in Urgent Bid to Sell Uranium Amid Cash Crisis
Niger’s Junta in Urgent Bid to Sell Uranium Amid Cash Crisis
By: Our Reporter
The ruling junta in Niger Republic is reportedly scrambling to offload a significant stockpile of uranium in a desperate attempt to shore up state finances, as the country grapples with a severe cash crunch, growing poverty, and a deteriorating security situation.
Recent reports indicate that Niger’s military leaders, struggling under mounting internal and external debt, have turned to China and Russia in a bid to secure a deal for dozens of tons of uranium stored in Arlit. However, Western powers, particularly the United States, have strongly warned against any sale of Nigerien uranium to Iran, setting a clear red line that could have serious geopolitical consequences.
The junta’s financial difficulties have become increasingly apparent in recent weeks. Niger’s Minister of Justice reportedly held discussions with magistrates, urging them to negotiate bail payments from certain detainees in exchange for their freedom. At the same time, tax officials have been aggressively shutting down businesses across Niamey to boost government revenue. Meanwhile, some security forces have faced delays in receiving their salaries, further highlighting the government’s fiscal struggles.
It is within this fragile economic landscape that the junta has intensified efforts to sell uranium, one of Niger’s most valuable natural resources.
Initially, Niger approached Chinese buyers, who expressed interest in purchasing 200 tons of uranium. However, at the last minute, the deal collapsed, leaving the junta scrambling for alternative buyers.
Desperate to push through the sale, Niger’s military rulers reportedly turned to an underground Russian company. According to intelligence sources, a clandestine plan is being put in place to fly the uranium out of Agadez, with a Russian linked company facilitating the transaction. The aircraft would reportedly land in Niger with the transaction value in U.S. dollars, load the uranium, and depart.
To cover their tracks, the junta is said to be forging documents to facilitate the sale through specialized state services. However, concerns have emerged that this Russian middleman may be acting on behalf of Iran, a move that could trigger serious diplomatic and economic repercussions.
U.S. Warning: “A Red Line Not to Be Crossed”
The reported connection between Niger’s uranium and Iran has drawn the attention of the United States, which has taken a firm stance against any such transaction.
A high-ranking U.S. delegation, including Molly Phee, former Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs, Celeste Wallander, Deputy Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, and General Michael Langley, head of AFRICOM, visited Niamey on March 12, 2024, to directly warn the junta against selling uranium to Iran.
During a tense meeting with Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine and Colonel Ibro Bacharou (alias “Souley Mai Konco”), the U.S. officials reportedly made it clear that selling uranium to Iran would cross a serious geopolitical red line.
Sources say that the head of the Nigerien junta distanced himself from the uranium sale, claiming that Ibrahim Moussa Gro, a special adviser on mines, had independently engaged in talks with Iran. However, observers believe this was merely an attempt to deflect blame and ease U.S. pressure.
Strengthening Niger-Iran Ties
Concerns over Niger’s uranium dealings with Iran intensified after Prime Minister Lamine Zeine visited Tehran in January 2024, a trip that resulted in closer economic cooperation between the two countries. Shortly after, a high-level Iranian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs, Dr. Mehdi Safari, traveled to Niamey on February 21, 2024, for further discussions.
Western intelligence sources suspect these engagements laid the groundwork for uranium sales to Iran, prompting the U.S. diplomatic intervention.
Meanwhile, Niger’s uranium industry is also entangled in legal disputes with foreign investors. French nuclear giant Orano has filed a second international arbitration case against Niger at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington. This follows an earlier case brought before the OHADA court in Abidjan. Orano accuses Niger of blocking its uranium exports, jeopardizing 900 jobs, and halting the redevelopment of the COMINAK mine, a project originally budgeted at 124 billion CFA francs ($206 million) over 20 years.
Canadian mining company GoviEx has also taken Niger to international arbitration over a contractual dispute. However, reports indicate that the junta has been forced to seek a settlement, realizing that the legal battle could further complicate Niger’s uranium sales on global markets.
Niger’s ruling junta finds itself in a precarious position, facing severe financial hardship, international scrutiny, and legal battles over its uranium industry. While the government seeks to liquidate its uranium reserves to fund state operations, the involvement of Russian intermediaries and possible links to Iran could jeopardize relations with key global powers and invite further diplomatic isolation.
With Western powers closely monitoring Niger’s actions, any unauthorized uranium sale could trigger sanctions, economic penalties, and increased geopolitical tensions. For the junta, the challenge lies in balancing economic survival with the risk of international backlash a gamble that could determine Niger’s future on the world stage.
Niger’s Junta in Urgent Bid to Sell Uranium Amid Cash Crisis
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
•••771 to Graduate in Nigeria in 2025
•••Otuaro Hails Scholars’ Performances
By: Michael Mike
Nine students awarded foreign post-graduate scholarships by the Presidential Amnesty Programme have graduated from their master’s degree rprogrammes in universities in the United Kingdom.
The successful scholars are the first graduates in the offshore post-graduate scholarship deployment to UK institutions by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic session.
They graduated from the Anglia Ruskin University, University of Dundee and The University of Law with master’s degrees in cyber security, data science and engineering, law, construction and civil engineering management, project management, and ICT.
Also, 711 undergraduate and post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries are expected to graduate from universities within Nigeria this year.
The PAP, on Wednesday, 3 December, 2025, organised a graduation reception for the scholars in London.
Otuaro has congratulated them on their successful graduation, stressing that they completed their programmes in record time which shows the seriousness they had put into their studies.
He said they have justified the Federal Government’s investment in their education with their successful graduation, and urged other beneficiaries not to be distracted in their academic pursuits.
“We congratulate these scholars on their successful graduation. It shows that they took their studies seriously. That is what we demand of every scholarship beneficiary, whether at the undergraduate or post-graduate level”, Otuaro said.
He reiterated his unwavering commitment to expanding the scholarship scheme to create more opportunities for indigent students of Niger Delta extraction to access higher education with a view to closing the human capital development gap in the region.
Otuaro said it was for this reason he deployed 3800 beneficiaries in-country in the 2024-2025 academic year, and increased the figure to 3900 in the 2025-2026 academic session with 200 for foreign scholarships.
Otuaro has so far deployed 7700 students for the PAP scholarship scheme within Nigeria in less than two years.
Within this period, also, he has also deployed 162 students from the region for post-graduate programmes in targeted disciplines in the UK universities.
According to him, this is in conformity with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the Niger Delta, who has given unprecedented support to the PAP because of his sincere love for the area.
The PAP boss said, “Our decision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the Niger Delta. We will continue to create more higher educational opportunities for students from indigent backgrounds in our region.
“We are also deepening the implementation of the programme’s mandate in informal education and other areas for the sustainable peace and socio-economic advancement of the region.”
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
By: Michael Mike
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited has been incorporated to seamlessly allowed for the Refinery and Free Trade Zone in Ondo State.
A press statement on Thursday read that: “In furtherance of our commitment to the execution of these two major projects – Refinery and Free Trade Zone in conjunction with the Ondo State Government, the joint partners have taken another giant step by incorporating a joint company, namely – SUNSHINE JOINT VENTURE INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED – as the vehicle to be used in executing these projects. A move that further reinforces the sincerity of purpose and total commitment of the funding partners to move ahead together as a united front.
According to the release by Wale Adekola on behalf of the JV, the Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limitedwill, going forward serve as the vehicle to work with the Ondo State Government through the Ondo State Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA) in the implementation of the executed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
The statement added that: “In moving the projects forward for implementation, the JV team met in Dubai to finalize the funding modalities and put in place structures and plans for the commencement of activities for ground breaking and community engagements. These initial activities are aimed at complementing the 50th Anniversary of the creation of Ondo State and the one year anniversary of the election of the Executive Governor of the Sunshine State, His Excellency, Chief Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa CFR.
At the Dubai meeting were key officers of the JV Company, including: Messrs SALEHI FARHAD; ZAHERI NAVID; EGHBAL KORDJAMSHIDI; SAHEED ZAHERI; DR. STEPHEN DIKE; HENRY OWONKA AND MRS. NAMVAR MARYAM.
The statement further informed that, plans have been concluded to mobilize the relevant contractors working with the locals and host communities to put up structures that will host the information center, architectural models to showcase the projects on offer and facilities that will serve the team. All these are being planned with ONDIPA to execute the relocation and accommodation of the host communities that are likely to be affected by the projects and create a seamless transition that will engender peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship with our host communities.
The JV company further reiterated its commitment to work with Ondo State Government (through ONDIPA) to change the infrastructural landscape of the Sunshine State and for mutual benefits.
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
By: Zagazola Makama
Seven suspected bandits were arrested along the Benin–Agbor Road in Edo State during stop-and-search operations, security sources confirmed.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspects, all Fulani youths, were intercepted after being offloaded from a truck at about 1800 hours on 2 December 2025. A search revealed pictures of assault rifles, including AK-47s, on their mobile phones.
Upon interrogation, the suspects claimed to have travelled from Adamawa State. Investigations are ongoing for the possible recovery of actual firearms and to determine their involvement in criminal activities.
Security agencies have urged members of the public to report any suspicious movements to help prevent criminal acts in the area.
Edo: Seven suspected bandits arrested along Benin-Agbor Road
UN Women Calls for Strengthening of Mechanism and Policies Towards Ending Gender Violence
Nine PAP Foreign Scholarship Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities
Sunshine Joint Venture Infrastructure Limited Established for Realization of Ondo Project
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