Wetin be Nigeria relationship wit Niger as Tinubu govment deny say dem back failed coup

Di Nigerian govment don dismiss claims wey dey circulate on social media say Nigeria and di Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) back di recent failed coup for Niger.

Di attempted coup happun on Saturday, 29 August, and na di latest challenge to military rule of General Abdourahamane Tiani.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, make di informate for statement wey e release on Thursday, 3 September.

E describe di claims as baseless, irresponsible and deliberate attempt to misinform di public and tarnish Nigeria image.

Enikanolaiye say Nigeria neva support and no go support military coups or any form of unconstitutional change of govment.

E stress say Nigeria remain committed to constitutional order, democracy and stability for West Africa, di Sahel and di African continent.

Di minister say Nigeria position on di situation for Niger don already dey inside one statement wey di ministry issue for 30, August 2026.

According to Enikanolaiye, di federal govment bin express deep concern ova developments for Niger and call for peaceful, inclusive and participatory return to stability and constitutional order for di neighbouring kontri.

Enikanolaiye say Nigeria, as close neighbour of Niger wit strong historical, fraternal and cultural ties, desire peace, security, democracy and development for di kontri, di sub-region and di Sahel.

Wetin be Nigeria relationship wit Niger?

Di relationship between Nigeria and Niger don sour since Niger 2023 military coup, wen President Bola Tinubu be di chairman of di Economic Community of West African States (Eccowas) and lead di regional bloc response to di overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum.

Ecowas bin demand release and restoration, while imposing sanctions on Niger, including border closures, financial restrictions and di suspension of electricity and oda services.

But di pressure no restore civilian rule. Three years later, Bazoum remain out of power, Niger military remain in control, and Niger don comot for Ecowas alongside Mali and Burkina Faso.

Ecowas bin threaten to invade Niger if diplomatic efforts to restore di democratic govment fail, prompting Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali to pull out of di 15-kontri bloc for January 2024.

Di fallout don also complicate cooperation against terrorism and oda cross-border security threats.

At di same time, Niger military govment don increasingly distance diasef from France and Western partners and move closer to Russia.

Nigeria and Niger dey face di same cross-border threats - particularly jihadist groups, banditry, trafficking and oda criminal networks. Dia long border mean say insecurity for one kontri fit quickly affect di oda.

However, Nigeria and Niger bin Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost dia security cooperation for 2024 despite di tensions between di two kontris.

Di Nigerian military bin sign di MoU for Niamey, di Nigerien capital.