MEDIA reports that Nigeria has shut its borders against Niger Republic over the political crisis in the country have been refuted by the Federal Government.

In a four-paragraph statement yesterday, Information and Communications Minister, Prof. Dora Akunyili, urged Nigerians and the international community to ignore the reports because they were "misleading and baseless."

Akunyili said such reports and rumours were "capable of creating avoidable frosty diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Niger."

The statement read: "The attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria has been drawn to public enquiries over media reports that Nigeria has closed its borders against neighbouring Niger Republic.

"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.

"I therefore appeal to the general public on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria to disregard this rumour, which is capable of creating avoidable frosty diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Niger Republic."

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to resolve the political crisis in Niger, the ECOWAS Consultative Meeting of major Nigerien stakeholders is due to start in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Monday.

About 50 people, comprising 15 government representatives and 35 others from the opposition and civil society organisations, are expected to attend the talks, to be presided over by former head of state and ECOWAS Mediator for Niger, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Some foreign media agencies had reported yesterday that Nigeria had partially shut its borders with Niger as a result of the suspension slammed on the country (Niger) by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for violating the bloc's Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

One of the media outfits, which carried the report yesterday, the Pan African News Agency (PANA), quoted ECOWAS and Nigerian government as its sources.

According to PANA, the sources said five border posts between the two countries were affected by the closure.

The agency quoted a Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) source as saying that though the movement of goods was totally prohibited while the border closure lasts, the movement of persons was more relaxed

It said political observers explained that the move by Nigeria, which is vital to the economic wellbeing of most countries in the sub-region, is aimed at further squeezing Niger to toe the path of constitutionality and good governance.

The Nigerien government had on Tuesday sent the country's Prime Minister Ali Badjo Gamatie to Nigeria to meet with President Umaru Yar'Adua, who is also the Chairman of ECOWAS.

Last month, the 15-member ECOWAS suspended Niger from the bloc, after Nigerien authorities rejected the body's request to postpone the parliamentary elections held on the same day.

Before the suspension, ECOWAS leaders had slammed other sanctions on Niger, where President Mamadou Tandja has changed the nation's constitution to pave the way for him to run for a third term.

Under the earlier sanctions, ECOWAS will not support candidates presented by Niger for elective posts in the international organisations and will also not organise the bloc's meetings in the country.