President Bola Tinubu, taking the lead to enforce the resolutions of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Niger Republic after the military coup, at an extra-ordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday, July 30, has written the Senate requesting approval for deployment of troops to restore democracy and reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger Republic.
In a letter read by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu declared that the the coup in Niger is strongly condemned by the ECOWAS under his leadership its entirety. He added that the West African bloc resolved in conjunction with other members of the international community to ensure the restoration of the democracy in Niger Republic.
The Nigerian President stated that the ECOWAS at an extra-ordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on, Sunday, July 30, made the following resolutions:
* Closure and monitoring of all land borders with Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise.
* Cutting off Electricity supply to Niger Republic
* Mobilising 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
* Blockade of goods in transit to Niger Republic especially from Lagos and eastern seaports
* Embarking on sensitization of Nigerians and Nigeriens on the imperative of these actions particularly via social media.
* Military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger Republic should they remain recalcitrant.
The President, in the letter, maintained that as Chairman of ECOWAS, Nigeria has the obligation to lead in the implementation of the directives outlined in the communique.
Meanwhile, Niger Republic has cut off diplomatic relations with Nigeria, including France, Togo and the U.S.; and has recalled her ambassadors.