The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has advised President Bola Tinubu to remove various sanctions imposed on Niger Republic with a view to creating ways to negotiate with the military junta

Recall that following the overthrow of Niger civilian government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the immediate closure of borders between Niger Republic and disconnected power supply to that country

Reacting, however, NEF Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the removal of sanctions on the country will make negotiations easier to conduct.

According to him, 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 by removing various sanctions, it would make negotiations led by Nigeria, using all assets that both countries value, 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,” he 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.