The Federal Government has fired back at claims linking Nigeria to the failed coup attempt in neighbouring Niger Republic, dismissing the allegations as false and deliberately designed to damage Nigeria’s reputation.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye, said Nigeria had never endorsed or supported any attempt to overthrow a government through unconstitutional means.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the minister said claims circulating on social media that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) backed the failed coup — and by extension that Nigeria supported it — were completely baseless.
The government urged Nigerians to disregard videos and narratives circulating online which it said were intended to create confusion and sow discord.
Enikanolaye stressed that Nigeria remained committed to democracy, constitutional rule and peaceful resolution of political disputes.
According to him, Nigeria’s position on the crisis was already made clear in an official statement issued on August 30, 2026, in which Abuja expressed concern over developments in Niger and called for a peaceful and inclusive return to stability and constitutional order.
He said Nigeria, as a close neighbour of Niger with strong historical, cultural and fraternal ties, wanted only peace, security, democracy and development for the country and the wider Sahel region.
The minister also rejected suggestions that Nigeria’s membership of ECOWAS meant it supported military intervention in Niger.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the African Union’s policy of zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes of government.
“Nigeria will never support illegality or unconstitutional change of government anywhere,” the minister said.
He added that Nigeria would continue working with ECOWAS, the African Union and the international community to defend democracy, uphold the rule of law and promote stability across West Africa.
The statement comes amid renewed tension surrounding Niger, which has remained under military rule since the 2023 overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum.
The Nigerian government maintained that whatever political differences exist in the region, force cannot be the answer.
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