The Nigerian government has refuted allegations made by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the military leader of Niger, claiming that Nigeria has collaborated with France to destabilize the neighboring country.
The accusations, shared in a viral video, have been described as unfounded and a product of imagination.
In a statement issued by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government dismissed the claims of supporting terrorist activities or plotting against Niger’s stability.
It reaffirmed that Nigeria has neither engaged in covert alliances nor ceded any part of its territory to foreign powers for subversive activities.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), was praised for his leadership in addressing Niger’s political crisis.
Nigeria, the statement emphasized, remains committed to regional peace and strengthening diplomatic ties with Niger, despite the challenges posed by the undemocratic change in Niger’s leadership.
The Nigerian Armed Forces, working with the Multinational Joint Task Force, continue to combat terrorism effectively within the region, countering the baseless assertion that Nigeria would undermine the security of its neighbor.
Claims that Nigeria conspired with France to establish a terrorist headquarters in Sokoto State were also dismissed as illogical and contrary to the country’s ongoing anti-terror operations, such as Operation Forest Sanity III.
Furthermore, the government rejected accusations of sabotaging Niger’s pipelines and agriculture.
Citing longstanding economic partnerships, including the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway Project, Nigeria reiterated its commitment to Niger’s development.
The statement concluded by urging the public to disregard these allegations and called on Niger’s leadership to focus on constructive dialogue.
The government criticized the claims as an attempt to shift attention from Niger’s internal issues and blackmail Nigeria for ECOWAS’s stance against unconstitutional power grabs.
“Nigeria will continue to lead efforts toward regional stability, addressing terrorism and fostering cooperation,” the statement affirmed.