Tchiani’s Allegations Against Nigeria: Fictional and Unfounded, Says FG
ABUJA/Nigeria: The Federal Government of Nigeria has strongly denied allegations made by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the military leader of Niger Republic, accusing Nigeria of collaborating with France to destabilize his country. In a statement issued on Thursday, December 26, 2024, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the claims as entirely fabricated and lacking any factual foundation.
“These claims exist solely in the realm of imagination,” Idris stated, emphasizing that Nigeria has never engaged in any covert or overt alliance with France—or any other country—to sponsor terrorism or destabilize Niger Republic. He highlighted Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to regional peace, underscoring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership as Chairman of ECOWAS. According to Idris, President Tinubu has kept the sub-regional body open to dialogue with Niger despite the recent political upheaval in the country, reaffirming Nigeria’s dedication to maintaining historic ties with its neighbor.
The statement reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding role as a regional leader in combating terrorism, with its Armed Forces collaborating with the Multinational Joint Task Force to address security threats in the Lake Chad Basin and beyond. Citing Operation Forest Sanity III, a recent military campaign targeting the Lakurawa terrorist group, Idris dismissed claims that Nigeria harbored such elements within its borders as absurd and unsubstantiated.
Idris also refuted accusations that Nigeria sought to sabotage Niger’s pipelines or agriculture, calling such allegations illogical and counterproductive. He pointed to collaborative infrastructure projects, including the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and the Kano-Maradi Railway, as evidence of Nigeria’s active support for Niger’s economic growth.
The minister firmly rejected suggestions that Nigeria had ceded territory for subversive operations or permitted foreign military bases on its soil. He asserted that Nigeria has consistently upheld its sovereignty and territorial integrity, unlike some nations, by never allowing foreign powers to establish military bases within its borders.
Calling on General Tchiani to provide credible evidence to substantiate his claims, Idris urged the public to dismiss the baseless accusations. He characterized attempts to blackmail Nigeria over ECOWAS’s stance against unconstitutional power seizures as disingenuous and doomed to fail. Instead, he advised Niger’s leadership to focus on addressing internal challenges through constructive dialogue and collaboration.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its dedication to regional stability, describing the allegations as a dangerous diversion from Niger’s pressing domestic issues. “Nigeria remains committed to fostering regional peace and will continue to lead efforts to address terrorism and promote stability in the West African sub-region,” the statement concluded.
