Nigeria’s Federal Government has dismissed accusations by Niger Republic’s military leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, alleging a joint plot between Nigeria and France to destabilize his country.
In a statement on Thursday, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris called the claims unfounded and a distraction from Tchiani’s own governance shortcomings.
The government reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to peace and stability in the region.
“These claims exist solely in the realm of imagination. Nigeria has never engaged in any alliance, overt or covert, with France or any other country to destabilize Niger Republic,” the statement read.
The government reiterated its commitment to peace and regional stability, emphasizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s open-door policy toward engaging Niger, even after the military coup that disrupted democratic governance in the country. As Chairman of ECOWAS, Tinubu has consistently prioritized diplomatic solutions to restore stability in Niger, the statement noted.
The Government also highlighted its leadership in combating terrorism in the region, citing the active role of its Armed Forces through collaborations with the Multinational Joint Task Force. It described as “absurd” suggestions that the country would conspire to undermine the security of its neighbour.