President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday confirmed that Nigeria has already cut off electricity supply to Niger Republic as part of the measures to force the military junta which took over power in the country to restore civil democratic rule.
The President stated this in a letter he wrote to the Senate informing it of the resolutions agreed on by members of the Economic Community of West Africa, ECOWAS, to restore civil democratic rule in Niger.
The President said, “As Chair of ECOWAS, Nigeria has the obligation to lead in the implementation of the directives outlined in the communique. I have directed all our extra ministerial developments and agencies including military and paramilitary agencies which actions include:
“Closure and monitoring of all land borders with Niger Republic and reactivation of the border drill exercise.
“Cutting off Electricity supply to Niger Republic; Mobilizing international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique; Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic and Blockade of goods in transit to Niger Republic especially from Lagos and the Eastern seaports
Others are: “Embarking on sensitization of Nigerians and Nigerians on the imperative of these actions particularly via the social media.
The President added that the resolutions of ECOWAS include deployment of military to enforce compliance by the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant to the ECOWAS communique.
The letter titled: “Implementation of the resolutions of the Economic Committee of West African States (ECOWAS) on the political situation in Niger Republic,” was read out by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the plenary on Thursday.
Tinubu said: “I present my modest compliments to the Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished Senators.
“I do have the honour to inform you that following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of His Excellency, President Mohammed Bazoum on 26th July 2023, the Economic Community of West African States under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved alongside other members of the international community to seek the return of the democratically elected Government in Niger.
“Consequently, in a bid to broker peace and restore democracy in the country, the ECOWAS convened an extra-ordinary summit of the authority of Heads of States and Governments on Sunday 30th July, 2023 in Abuja.
“The body consisted the African Union and ECOWAS Protocols on constitutional changes of Government thereafter issued a communiqué, a copy attached, on the line of action decided upon by Member States.
“Military build up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance by the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant to the ECOWAS communique.”
