The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed allegations by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, Niger Republic’s military leader, suggesting collaboration between Nigeria and France to destabilize his country.
The claims, made in a viral video, were described by Nigeria as entirely baseless and without merit.
In a statement, the Federal Government clarified that Nigeria has never engaged in any covert or overt alliance with France or any other nation to sponsor terrorist activities or undermine Niger Republic. It further emphasized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s role as ECOWAS Chairman, highlighting his commitment to maintaining dialogue with Niger, despite the political upheaval in the neighboring country.
Nigeria’s Armed Forces, in partnership with the Multinational Joint Task Force, have made significant progress in combating terrorism within the region. The idea that Nigeria would conspire with foreign powers to destabilize Niger Republic was labeled as absurd and unfounded. Additionally, the government firmly denied allegations of arming or supporting terror groups, reiterating that no part of Nigeria has been ceded to foreign powers for subversive activities.
The Federal Government also pointed to ongoing joint initiatives, such as the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway Project, as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to fostering Niger’s economic growth. Claims that Nigeria would sabotage projects it has actively promoted were dismissed as illogical and counterproductive.
The accusation of establishing a terrorist base in Sokoto State in collaboration with France was also rejected. Nigeria, a regional leader in counter-terrorism efforts, recently launched Operation Forest Sanity III to address such threats, further disproving the allegations.
The government urged the public to disregard these claims, calling on Niger’s military leadership to provide credible evidence if their allegations hold any weight. It added that attempts to discredit Nigeria over ECOWAS’s stance against unconstitutional governance in Niger would fail.
The statement concluded by urging Niger to focus on addressing its internal challenges through constructive dialogue and cooperation rather than deflecting attention with baseless accusations. Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to regional stability and its leadership role in addressing terrorism and transnational issues.
Be the first to comment