Nigeria has firmly denied allegations of any military collaboration with France, emphasizing that its relationship with the European nation is purely economic. The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, made this clear during an interview on Friday, responding to claims from Niger’s military junta leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani.
Tchiani had accused Nigeria of allowing France to use its territory as a staging ground to destabilize Niger. Ribadu, however, dismissed these accusations as baseless and implausible, describing them as an attempt to strain diplomatic ties between the nations.
He clarified, “Nigeria has no history of hosting foreign military bases. Even our former colonizer, the United Kingdom, has never established a base here. We have consistently resisted such attempts, including from the United States.
“In contrast, Niger has hosted foreign bases, including one by the U.S., which they recently expelled. Our relationship with France has always been centered on economic cooperation, not military collaboration. While Niger’s leadership may have their grievances with France, it is unreasonable to expect Nigeria to sever ties with France over Niger’s internal issues.”
Ribadu reiterated Nigeria’s stance: “We will not allow our country to be used as a tool for destabilizing Niger. We hope that Niger’s leadership will understand this and work with us as allies and brothers to ensure peace and stability in the region.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to peaceful coexistence, Ribadu cited the country’s long-standing friendly relations with neighbors such as Chad, Cameroon, and Benin Republic.
“Nigeria has no intention of sabotaging or destabilizing Niger. We have always maintained peaceful relations with our neighbors. Why would we suddenly have a reason to be in conflict with Niger? It simply doesn’t make sense,” he concluded.
This statement reaffirms Nigeria’s dedication to regional stability and economic partnerships over military engagements.
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