The Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected allegations made in a viral video by the military leader of Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, claiming non-existent collusion between Nigeria and France to destabilize his country.
These claims according to the Nigerian government exist solely in the realm of imagination, as it stressed that the country has never engaged in any overt or covert alliance with France – or any other country – to sponsor terrorist attacks or destabilize the Niger Republic in the wake of the undemocratic change in the leadership of that country.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described Tchiani’s accusations as unfounded and a diversionary tactic aimed at covering his administration’s failures.
The government emphasised that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as Chairman of ECOWAS, has maintained an open-door policy toward re-engaging Niger despite the military coup that disrupted democratic governance in the country.
“Nigeria remains committed to fostering peace, harmony, and maintaining its historic diplomatic ties with Niger,” the statement added.
The government further highlighted the active role of Nigeria’s Armed Forces in curbing terrorism within the region through collaborations with the Multinational Joint Task Force. It dismissed as “absurd” suggestions that Nigeria would conspire to undermine the peace and security of its neighbor.
The statement specifically denied allegations that Nigeria had ceded parts of its territory to foreign powers or established terrorist bases in Sokoto State in collaboration with France.
“The claims about the establishment of a so-called Lakurawa terrorist headquarters in Sokoto State are baseless. Nigeria has been a regional leader in combating terrorism, dedicating significant resources and lives to ensure stability in the Lake Chad Basin and beyond,” it stated.
It cited recent military operations, including Operation Forest Sanity III, which specifically targeted the Lakurawa threat, as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to regional security.
The government also debunked accusations that Nigeria was sabotaging Niger’s pipelines and agriculture. It pointed out Nigeria’s active role in supporting Niger’s economic development through initiatives such as the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway Project.
“It is illogical to suggest that Nigeria would undermine projects it has actively promoted,” the statement noted.
The Federal Government urged the public to disregard Tchiani’s allegations, challenging him to provide credible evidence to support his claims.
“Any attempt to blackmail Nigeria over ECOWAS’s principled stance against the unconstitutional seizure of power in Niger is disingenuous and doomed to fail,” Idris said.
