General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the military leader of the Niger Republic, has accused Nigeria of plotting with France to destabilize his nation, a claim that the Federal Government of Nigeria has categorically denied. The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made a statement in which he called the allegations “imaginary and baseless.” The minister underlined that Nigeria has never formed an overt or covert alliance with France or any other country in order to support terrorism or undermine the Niger Republic, particularly in the wake of its most recent undemocratic government transition.
The declaration emphasized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to promoting regional peace and unity. Despite the political difficulties in the neighboring nation, President Tinubu has shown excellent leadership by keeping lines of communication open with Niger in his capacity as ECOWAS Chairman. Nigeria continues to support regional stability and is committed to its longstanding relationship with Niger, Idris said.
The Federal Government further denied allegations that Nigeria had given up any portion of its territory for subversive activities or armed or assisted any group in attacking the Niger Republic. By actively working with the Multinational Joint Task Force to combat terrorism in the Lake Chad Basin and beyond, Nigeria confirmed its role as a regional leader in counterterrorism operations. The government cited its ongoing counterterrorism operations, including as “Forest Sanity III” and “Operation Chase Lakurawa Out,” as proof of its dedication to thwarting threats, calling the charges of harboring a terrorist headquarters in Sokoto State baseless.
It was also highlighted how committed Nigeria is to regional development. Current initiatives such as the Kano-Maradi Railway Project and the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline were cited as proof of Nigeria’s backing for Niger’s economic development. According to the statement, it was nonsensical to imply that Nigeria would sabotage projects it has actively supported.
The accusations, according to the Federal Government, are a diversionary strategy meant to divert attention from Niger’s internal problems. The Nigerien leadership was challenged to produce reliable proof to support its charges, and the people was urged to reject the allegations. Idris went on to say that efforts to coerce Nigeria over ECOWAS’s moral opposition to illegitimate power grabs were ill-advised and doomed.
The government concluded by urging the military leadership of Niger to put communication and cooperation ahead of unfounded charges. As a regional leader, Nigeria is unwavering in its resolve to tackle global issues and promote stability in West Africa. These statements reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to preserving its independence and fostering regional harmony.
