Northern Elders Forum urges Nigeria to remove all sanctions imposed on Niger
By babagana jidda kanempress
15 august 2023
The Northern Elders Forum, NEF in Nigeria has advised President Bola Tinubu to remove various sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger Republic so as to pave way for negotiation with the military junta.
It will be recalled that after the overthrow of the civilian government in Niger, Nigerian President and regional bloc chair, Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the immediate closure of borders between both countries and disconnected power supply.
In reaction, the Northern Elders Forum, Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the removal of sanctions on the Republic of Niger will make negotiations easier to conduct.
According to Baba-Ahmed, the sanctions imposed will negatively affect the morale and welfare of citizens of both countries and will detract from the existing positive disposition towards Nigeria’s position.
He said removing the various sanctions would make negotiations by both countries easier to conduct, adding that the forum noted the apology offered by the military leaders in Niger to our President over the manner in which his envoys, General Abdusalami and His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, were received.
It said President Tinubu is Chairman of ECOWAS and leader of Nigerians, adding that Nigeria is uniquely placed to engage the leadership of the Niger Republic to accept these with the minimum of delay.
“It will compound the security and humanitarian crises in the ECOWAS region. It is likely to weaken and further divide the ECOWAS and provide greater access for non-African interests into the lives of Africans, with negative consequences,” Baba-Ahmed said.
He said the ECOWAS should actively re-assess the roles and designs of non-African interests in the West African region. Besides multiple threats from armed groups in the Sahel and the region, we are becoming increasingly victims of global military manoeuvres and a scramble for our assets.
He commended all leaders and persons of influence, including the Nigerian Senate, who are contributing to a genuine resolution of the situation in the Niger Republic, just as he urged President Tinubu to recognise this unique moment in history and conduct himself in such a manner that it records his role as defining statesmanship.
