The accusations of the military leader of the Republic of Niger against Nigeria are baseless - FG
The Federal Government of Nigeria firmly stands by the allegations made in a viral video by the military leader of the Republic of Niger, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, saying there was no collusion between Nigeria and France to destabilize his country.
These claims exist only in the realm of imagination, as Nigeria has never entered into any open or secret alliance with France - or any other country - to sponsor terrorist attacks or destabilize the Republic of Niger after the undemocratic change to the leader of this country.
This is contained in a statement
Muhammad Idris
Minister of Information and National Guidance.
He said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as ECOWAS President, has shown exemplary leadership, keeping the doors of the sub-regional body open for reactivation by the Republic of Niger, regardless of the political situation in the country . Nigeria remains committed to promoting peace, harmony and historic diplomatic relations with Niger. The Nigerian Armed Forces, in collaboration with its partners in the Joint Multinational Task Force, have succeeded in curbing terrorism in the region. It is therefore absurd to suggest that Nigeria is conspiring with a foreign power to undermine the peace and security of a neighbouring country.
Neither the government nor any of its officials have ever been involved in arming or supporting any terrorist group to attack the Republic of Niger. Furthermore, no part of Nigeria has been surrendered to any foreign power for subversive operations in the Republic of Niger. We reiterate our full support to the senior officials of the Nigerian government for their tireless commitment to peace and security between the government and people of Nigeria and Niger, and for their efforts towards stronger cooperation in the ECOWAS region. The minister stressed that "Nigeria has a long tradition of protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Unlike some countries, Nigeria has never allowed foreign powers to establish military bases on its soil. This shows our commitment to national independence and regional leadership."
The allegation that Nigeria is seeking to sabotage Niger's pipelines and agriculture is baseless and counterproductive. Nigeria has always supported Niger's economic development through joint energy and infrastructure projects, such as the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline and the Kano-Maradi railway project. It is illogical to suggest that Nigeria is undermining initiatives it has actively promoted. Allegations that a Lakurawa terrorist base has been established in Sokoto State, orchestrated by Nigeria in collaboration with France, are unfounded. Nigeria is a regional leader in the fight against terrorism, devoting significant resources and human lives to ensuring stability in the Lake Chad Basin and beyond.
Recently, the Nigerian Army launched Operation Forest Sanity III, specifically aimed at combating the Lakurawa threat, codenamed "Chase Lakurawa Out". How can a government that is actively combating the Lakurawa threat now be accused of harboring the same group on its territory? These allegations lack credible evidence and appear to be part of a broader effort to divert attention from Niger's internal challenges. The public is urged to disregard these false allegations. Those making such allegations, especially the military leader of the Republic of Niger, must provide credible evidence to support them. Any attempt to blackmail Nigeria into taking ECOWAS' principled stand against the unconstitutional seizure of power in the Republic of Niger is both false and doomed to failure.
He concluded: "President Tchiani's allegations are not only baseless but also a dangerous attempt to distract from the shortcomings of his administration. Nigeria remains committed to promoting regional stability and will continue to lead efforts to combat terrorism and other transnational challenges. We call on Niger to focus on dialogue and constructive cooperation instead of spreading baseless accusations.
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