President Bola Tinubu has formally informed the Nigerian Senate of the plan by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to forcefully quash a coup in Niger.
The regional body has threatened force against the military junta in Niger and has given it till Sunday to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum.
The junta has rejected the threat, vowing to fight off any foreign intervention.
In his letter to the Senate, Mr Tinubu, who is the current head of ECOWAS in the letter said ECOWAS has resolved to ensure military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta.
– What Tinubu said
“The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), under my leadership condemn the coup in its entirety and resolved alongside other members of the international community to seek return of a democratic elected government in Niger,” he said.
“Consequently in a bid to broker peace and restore democracy in the country ECOWAS conveyed an extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of States and governments on July 30 in Abuja.
“The body, consistent with Africa Union (AU) and ECOWAS) protocols on consititutional changes of government, thereafter issued communique on the line of action decided upon by member states.
“As Chair of ECOWAS, Nigeria has the obligation to lead in the implementation of the directive outlined in the communique and such resolved as follows:
“Closure and monitoring of all land borders with Niger Republic and reactivation of border drill exercise, cutting off electricity supply to Niger Republic.
“Mobilising international support for the implementation of the provisions of ECOWAS communique, presenting cooperation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic.”
According to Mr Tinubu, other resolutions reach by ECOWAS includes blockage of goods in transit to Niger Republic especially from Lagos and eastern seaports, embarking on sensitisation of Nigerians and Nigeriens on imperative of actions of ECOWAS especially social media.
Discover more from Pluboard
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.