LAGOS, Nov 06, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The Nigerian government has denied closing its border with Niger amid tensions between the West African bloc ECOWAS and Niamey, the Lagos-based Vanguard newspaper reported on Friday.
Dora Akunyili, the minister of information and communications, denied the allegation in a statement, calling on the public to ignore the rumor and go about their daily activities.
According to Akunyili, the rumor was as a result of media reports, which are baseless and misleading.
"The attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been drawn to public enquiries over media reports that Nigeria has closed its borders against her neighboring Niger Republic," the statement said.
"I wish to state that the Federal Government of Nigeria has not closed its borders with Niger Republic. The media reports are false, misleading and baseless," it added.
"I therefore appeal to the general public on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria to disregard this rumor which is capable of creating avoidable frosty diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Niger Republic," the statement quoted the minister as saying.
Nigeria holds the presidency of ECOWAS, which suspended Niger after its holding of a referendum in August and the Oct. 20 legislative elections in the country.
ECOWAS imposed a ban on the elections, which it considers another step to consolidate Nigerien President Mamadou Tandja's grip on power in violation of the Constitution and democracy.
The 71-year-old president, whose terms of office expires in December, had the constitution revised to allow himself another term of office after a referendum held on Aug. 4 and promulgated on Aug. 18, prompting an outcry from the opposition and sanctions by the European Union and ECOWAS.
