Retired army generals, former diplomats, and security experts have urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the fortification of Nigeria’s northern borders in response to potential security threats arising from the ongoing crisis between Nigeria and Niger.
They also called on the Federal Government to handle the crisis with caution, insisting that the safety of Nigerians, particularly those in the northern region, must be the primary concern.
The call for stronger border security follows recent accusations by Niger’s military regime that Nigeria has been involved in destabilising activities.
Niger’s military leader, Brigadier General Abdourahmane Tchiani, in an interview on Wednesday, alleged that France was negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilise his country.
Tchiani, who spoke in Hausa, claimed that France made a “substantial payment to President Bola Tinubu” to establish a military base in Nigeria.
He also accused Nigeria of sponsoring terrorist attacks along its borders as a means of undermining the new leadership.
The junta blamed the Nigerian government for the recent attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline, reportedly orchestrated by Lakurawa.
In response, the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, insisted that there was no foreign military base in Nigeria.
He said Nigeria would not sever its diplomatic ties with France over the Republic of Niger’s internal squabble with its erstwhile colonial master, adding that the country would also maintain diplomatic relations with Russia, the US, the United Kingdom, China, and other nations.
Weighing in on the matter, the Economic Community of West African States dismissed the claim by the Nigerien military junta that Nigeria and some other countries were sponsoring destabilisation efforts in Niger, insisting that the allegations were unfounded.
Examining the security implications of the crisis, General Bashir Adewinbi (retd.) advised the Federal Government to activate a security contingency plan to protect border communities from any fallout arising from the ongoing crisis.
He warned that the instability in Niger could have far-reaching security implications for Nigeria, particularly in the northern region.
