The Nigerian government has denied claims circulating on social media that it or the Economic Community of West African States backed a recent failed coup attempt in Niger Republic.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye said in a statement on Thursday that the claims falsely suggested the coup attempt had ECOWAS's backing and, by extension, Nigeria's endorsement. He described the allegations as an attempt to mislead the public and damage the country's reputation, and said Nigeria "will never support illegality or unconstitutional change of government," regardless of the country involved.
Enikanolaiye referred to an earlier Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement issued on August 30, in which Nigeria expressed concern over the situation in Niger and called for a peaceful, inclusive return to constitutional order. He urged Nigerians to disregard videos and narratives circulating online that suggested otherwise, and reaffirmed the country's commitment to the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and the African Union's policy against unconstitutional changes of government.
Niger has been under military rule since a 2023 coup, part of a wider wave of military takeovers across the Sahel that has also put Mali and Burkina Faso under military governments. Nigeria itself has faced its own coup-related scrutiny over the past year: the Defence Headquarters confirmed in January that it had uncovered an alleged plot involving military personnel to overthrow President Bola Tinubu's government, a case that remains before the courts.
The identity and objectives of those behind the failed coup attempt in Niger have not been independently confirmed.
