Nigeria Denies Collusion with France to Destabilize Niger Republic
The Federal Government has firmly denied allegations that Nigeria is collaborating with France to destabilize the Niger Republic.
On Thursday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, addressed claims made by Niger Republic’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, asserting that Nigeria was working with France against his country. Idris dismissed these allegations as baseless and purely imaginative.
Reaffirming Commitment to Peace
Idris emphasized that Nigeria has never engaged in any alliance, overt or covert, with France or any other country to destabilize Niger Republic. He highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s role as the Chairman of ECOWAS, maintaining an open-door policy towards re-engaging Niger despite the military coup that disrupted democratic governance.
Nigeria’s Role in Regional Security
The minister reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to fostering peace and maintaining historic diplomatic ties with Niger. He underscored the efforts of Nigeria’s armed forces in curbing terrorism within the region through collaborations with the Multinational Joint Task Force.
Debunking Baseless Claims
Idris described as “absurd” the suggestions that Nigeria would conspire to undermine the peace and security of its neighbor. He 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,” he stated.
Evidence of Commitment
The minister cited recent military operations, including Operation Forest Sanity III, which specifically targeted the Lakurawa threat, as evidence of Nigeria’s dedication to regional security. He also debunked accusations that Nigeria was sabotaging Niger’s pipelines and agriculture, highlighting 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.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria
Call for Credible Evidence
Idris urged the public to disregard Tchiani’s allegations and called on him to provide credible evidence to support his claims. He stressed that any attempt to blackmail Nigeria over ECOWAS’s principled stance against the unconstitutional seizure of power in Niger is disingenuous and doomed to fail.
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