The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed reports claiming that the Nigerian Acting Head of Mission in Portugal was summoned by Portuguese authorities over the movement of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft scheduled for maintenance in the country.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Friday, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, described the circulating claims as “entirely false.”
“The alleged summoning of the Nigerian Ambassador in Lisbon by Portuguese authorities over a Nigerian Air Force aircraft heading to Portugal for maintenance is fake news,” Ebienfa said.
The ministry’s reaction comes amid heightened scrutiny following the unplanned landing of a Nigerian military aircraft in Burkina Faso earlier this week.
The C-130 aircraft, carrying 11 Nigerian soldiers, was en route to Portugal for routine maintenance when it diverted to Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso on December 8, 2025, after developing a technical fault shortly after takeoff from Lagos.
Burkina Faso’s state news agency, Agence d’Information du Burkina, reported that the aircraft was forced to land for allegedly violating the country’s airspace.
In a statement, the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) condemned the incident, saying its investigation revealed the aircraft lacked proper authorisation to fly over Burkina Faso.
“The regional bloc condemns with the utmost firmness this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states,” AES said.
The Nigerian Air Force, however, insists the aircraft’s landing complied with international aviation protocols and was a standard safety procedure.
As of Friday, diplomatic engagements are ongoing to secure the release of the detained personnel and aircraft, which have remained in Burkina Faso for the fifth consecutive day.
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