Again, Nigeria Refutes Claims Of Collusion With France To Destabilise Niger Republic
The Federal Government of Nigeria has once again strongly denied allegations made by Niger Republic’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who accused Nigeria of working with France to destabilize his country.
The Nigerian government described these claims, made by Tchiani in a viral video, as entirely baseless and without merit. In a statement issued to journalists on Thursday in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasized that Nigeria has consistently acted in the best interests of regional peace and stability. He reaffirmed that Nigeria has no history of engaging in actions that would undermine the sovereignty of its neighbors.
“Nigeria has never participated in any alliance with France or any other nation to sponsor terrorism or destabilize Niger Republic,” the statement read. “Under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, who chairs the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nigeria has worked tirelessly to foster peace and stability in the region, including through diplomatic channels aimed at re-engaging Niger despite its political instability,” Idris added.
The Nigerian government also reiterated its commitment to regional security, especially through the Multinational Joint Task Force, which is dedicated to combating terrorism across the region. The government dismissed the allegations of Nigeria harboring terrorist groups or allowing its territory to be used for subversive activities, describing these claims as “absurd.”
Refuting specific accusations, the statement also rejected claims that Nigeria had sabotaged Niger’s pipelines or agricultural activities. It pointed to collaborative projects between the two countries, such as the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway Project, as evidence of positive bilateral relations.
In response to the allegation of a so-called Lakurawa terrorist headquarters in Sokoto State, the government highlighted its recent military operation—Forest Sanity III: Operation Chase Lakurawa Out—as proof of Nigeria’s proactive stance in addressing such threats.
The Nigerian government dismissed the accusations as lacking credible evidence and suggested they were part of an attempt to distract from Niger’s internal challenges. It called on Niger’s military leadership to focus on constructive dialogue rather than spreading falsehoods.
“Nigeria remains fully committed to regional stability and fighting transnational threats. Any attempts to blackmail Nigeria over ECOWAS’s principled stance against unconstitutional power seizures will not succeed,” the statement concluded.
