Nigeria denies supporting military coups anywhere in Africa

Nigeria has rejected claims circulating online that it supported a failed coup attempt in Niger or that ECOWAS backed the action.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaye said the allegations were “baseless, irresponsible, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public and tarnish Nigeria’s image.” He issued the denial in a statement signed personally and released in Lokoja on Thursday.

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The Federal Government of Nigeria categorically rejects these claims as baseless, irresponsible, and a deliberate attempt to misinform the public and tarnish Nigeria’s image.

Enikanolaye said Nigeria remained a defender of constitutional order and would not support an illegal or unconstitutional transfer of power in any African country. He pointed to an earlier Foreign Affairs Ministry statement that expressed deep concern over the situation in Niger and called for a peaceful, inclusive and participatory return to stability and constitutional order.

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Nigeria will never support illegality or unconstitutional change of government anywhere, no matter who is involved or which country is concerned.

“As a sisterly neighbour bound by close historical, fraternal and cultural ties, Nigeria desires only peace, security, democracy and development for Niger, the sub-region and the Sahel,” he said. He added that using force to settle political disputes conflicted with Nigeria’s long-standing foreign policy.

The minister said Nigeria remained committed to the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the African Union’s zero-tolerance policy toward unconstitutional changes of government. He urged Nigerians at home and abroad to disregard online videos and narratives that he said sought to sow discord, adding that Nigeria would continue working with ECOWAS, the AU and the international community to defend democracy and promote regional stability.

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As a sisterly neighbour bound by close historical, fraternal and cultural ties, Nigeria desires only peace, security, democracy and development for Niger, the sub-region and the Sahel.