FG Slams Niger Military Leader’s Claims, Rejects Allegations Of Collusion With France
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The Federal Government has firmly rejected allegations made by Niger Republic’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, accusing Nigeria of collaborating with France to destabilize his country.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the allegations as “unfounded” and labeled them as part of a strategy by the military junta to deflect from its governance failures.
“These claims are nothing more than a figment of the imagination. Nigeria has never engaged in any form of conspiracy with France, or any other nation, to harm the peace of Niger Republic,” Idris asserted.
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The Nigerian government highlighted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing efforts, as ECOWAS Chairman, to restore stability in Niger following the military coup that ousted its democratically elected government.
Nigeria, according to Idris, remains committed to fostering peace and upholding its historical diplomatic ties with Niger.
“Nigeria has always maintained an open-door policy toward dialogue, and this is evident in President Tinubu’s continuous engagement with the country despite the coup,” the statement emphasized.
Refuting accusations that Nigeria had ceded parts of its territory to foreign powers or established terrorist bases in Sokoto State with French assistance, the government called these allegations “absurd.” Nigeria’s military, the statement continued, remains at the forefront of combating terrorism in the region, as seen through collaborative operations with the Multinational Joint Task Force.
The Nigerian government also dispelled rumors about Nigeria’s involvement in sabotaging Niger’s pipelines and agricultural sector, pointing to its active role in regional projects such as the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway Project. “It is illogical to suggest that Nigeria would undermine initiatives it has actively supported,” Idris noted.
