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President Tinubu notifies senate about emergency ECOWAS meeting in Abuja

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President Bola Tinubu on Friday sent a correspondence to the senate to notify it of the resolution of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore Democracy in Niger and reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

President Tinubu who is the Chairman of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in the letter read to senators by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio condemned the coup in neighboring Republic of Niger.
He informed the senator that ECOWAS has “resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected government and restoration of peace in the landlocked country.
According to President Tinubu, ECOWAS under his watch has agreed to close and monitor all land borders with Niger Republic and to reactivate the border drilling exercise.
ECOWAS at its meeting on Sunday also reached a resolution to cut off electricity supply to Niger Republic, mobilize international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique.
The sub-regional body also agreed to ban commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic, block goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports.
ECOWAS also took a decision to embark on sensitization of Nigerians and Nigeriens on the imperative of these actions particularly via social media.
The most striking of ECOWAS resolutions is the decision to begin military build up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant.

Other issues also raised at the meeting include “blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports; embarking on sensitization of Nigerians and Nigerians on the imperative of these actions particularly via social media; and military build up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant”.

But shortly after the letter was read, a former deputy Senate majority leader, Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi State), raised a constitutional point of order to draw the attention of the Senate to the provisions of the Senate on how the armed forces could be deployed on a combat duty outside Nigeria.

He said his point of order was aimed at guiding the Senate on the matter.

Ningi read section 5(5) of the Constitution which states that “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (4) of this section, the President, in consultation with the National Defence Council, may deploy members of the armed forces of the Federation on a limited combat duty outside Nigeria if he is satisfied that the national security is under imminent threat or danger provided that the President shall, within seven days of actual combat engagement, seek the consent of the Senate and the Senate shall thereafter give or refuse the said consent within 14 days.”

He said though the President has the powers to direct military action in Niger it must be in line with certain steps and provisions of the law which the President is yet to initiate for necessary approval from the senate.

ECOWAS issued the military junta in Niger a 7 day ultimatum which had now elapsed to restore President Mohamed Bazoum.

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West Africa

ECOWAS Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors move to introduce ECO

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The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun on Thursday hosted a virtual high-level committee meeting at the Finance Headquarters, Abuja to discuss the practical arrangements for the introduction of the ECOWAS single currency, known as the ECO.
This is coming with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to fostering economic growth and development within the West African Sub-Region
A statement by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Manga indicated that the meeting brought together key stakeholders, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Minister of Finance of Cape Verde, Mr. Olavo Correia, the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr. Adama Coulibaly, and the Ghanaian Minister of Finance, Mr. Mohammed Amin Adam, as well as other distinguished representatives
According to the statement, the ECO aims to promote economic integration, facilitate trade, and enhance monetary stability among the fifteen member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“The session marked a significant step towards the realization of this goal, as participants discussed preparations for the introduction of the single currency.
Edun emphasized the importance of the ECO in fostering economic growth and development in the region and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the successful implementation of the single currency.

The meeting concluded with a renewed sense of purpose for the introduction of the ECO, which is expected to have a positive impact on the region’s economic prospects.

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West Africa

ECOWAS backpedals on economic sanctions against Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger

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ECOWAS secretariat

The Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) has removed economic sanctions placed on Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea.
This came following the resolution taken on Saturday, in Abuja, during the extraordinary summit on the political, security, and peace conditions in the ECOWAS sub-region.
However, the regional bloc, noted that the political and targeted sanctions remain.
It would be recalled that the West African bloc had in a swift response to the military coup in Niger, enforced a no-flight zone over the country.
The Nigerian government also cut off power supply to the military-ruled country to persuade the juntas to restore democracy in the country.
President Bola Tinubu happened to be the current chairman of ECOWAS.

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West Africa

It’s embarassing for 3 countries to exit from ECOWAS under Tinubu’s watch – Timi Frank

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It is a national disgrace and shame to Nigeria for three member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to withdraw their membership under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, former deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has claimed
He said the inability of Tinubu to peacefully resolve the lingering issues leading to the exit of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from the regional body does not bode well for the leadership roles his predecessors have played in keeping the subregion united and peaceful.

He indicated that the 15-member regional group established about 49 years ago were intact when he assumed the reins of leadership as chairman in July 2023.

“But history will record that things fell apart during his ineffectual, riderless and neglectful stewardship in less than seven months,” Frank declared.

The military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger had last Sunday announced their immediate breakaway from the ECOWAS and joined forces in an “Alliance of Sahel States.”

The regimes have been having fractured ties with ECOWAS since coups took place in Niger last July, Burkina Faso in 2022 and Mali in 2020 as they have been struggling with jihadist violence and poverty.

The three regimes were suspended from ECOWAS with Niger and Mali facing heavy sanctions but they had maintained their hard-line positions in recent months.

Frank in his reaction to the withdrawal said the buck should stop at the table of President Tinubu who is the present chairman of the body for failing to use his position to foster peace through effective dialogue.
However he said the Nigerian oresident had maintained a hardline stance including a botched attempt to spearhead the use of arms to restore democracy in Niger.

Frank said: “Since assuming office as President of Nigeria, Tinubu has demonstrated his lack of nuanced understanding of regional politics and empathy for poor and suffering Nigerians – his primary constituency.

“No man cannot give what he does not have. His poor leadership of the regional body has led to its ongoing disintegration just as it has brought untold hardship upon Nigerians.

“Your inexperience and that of those handling the economy has destroyed our economy.
“Investors have refused to come into the Region and particularly in Nigeria as they are seen pulling out of Nigeria on a daily basis.

“For instance, Tinubu met the exchange rate of Naira to Dollar at about N600 to a dollar but today it is about N1,500 to a dollar.

“Besides, his knee-jerk removal of fuel subsidy has further impoverished Nigerians with people finding it difficult to feed or afford skyrocketing transport fares.

“Above all, insecurity is on the increase with the nation’s capital – FCT – and other parts of the country rendered increasingly unsafe by incessant kidnappings and gruesome killings.

“How can a man who has not been able to secure and ensure peace in his house be counted upon to provide leadership to a politically, culturally and religiously diverse 15 sovereign nations?

“Today Tinubu is destroying ECOWAS just like he is doing to Nigeria. Tinubu has introduced regionalism into the governance of Nigeria.

“His latest move which must be rejected and resisted by all is to move the nation’s capital back to Lagos through the back by relocating key government agencies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Lagos. Injustice cannot but breed discontent and disunity.”

He called on President Tinubu to retrace his hasty steps and toxic economic policies both as chairman of ECOWAS and President of Nigeria and equally to ensure that the powers entrusted to him do not ruin the country and the subregion socially, politically and economically.

To say the least, you won’t be on private visit when your house is burning. The right thing to do was to come back home immediately and have an emergency meeting in furtherance of your resignation as ECOWAS chairman, if you has any iota of shame left. It is insensitive and a glaring sign of incompetence.

He further called on the President to seek advice from former Nigerian Presidents who also acted as chairmen of ECOWAS on how to lead Nigeria and the subregional body.

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