The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has commended President Bola Tinubu for reopening the Nigeria – Niger air and land borders and the lifting of economic sanctions.
Nigeria had closed its borders against Niger Republic in the wake of the coup that sacked Mohamed Bazoum as democratically elected president on July 26, 2023.
However, on March 13, 2024, President Tinubu, directed the reopening of the borders between the two countries.
The ACF, in a statement on Thursday in Kaduna by Tukur Muhammad-Baba, its spokesperson, said Tinubu’s directive by for the reopening of the border was a welcome development.
The forum said border communities can now look forward to a change in their challenging economic conditions.
“Critical supplies of food, medicines and electricity will now resume as will air travel operators and passengers see an end to the ordeals while the sanctions lasted”, the statement noted.
It added that “President Tinubu deserves accolades for the latest move and acting in Africa’s interests, a heroic step forward against neo-colonial manoeuvres.
“ACF congratulates the President for emerging from the saga as bona fide, listening and responsive leader concerned with the plight of the people of Nigeria, Niger and, ultimately, West Africa.”
The forum also commended the intervention by former military head of state and one of the founding fathers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), one in seeing to the end of the crisis.
Mohammed-Baba said Gen. Gowon remains active in uniting West African people around issues of common interests.
He called on the political authorities in the Republic of Niger to reciprocate and fully exploit this window of rapprochement to reset Nigeria – Niger relations.
The forum further called on “the heads of governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger (and Guinea) to back down on their threat to exit ECOWAS. “This is no time for muscle flexing but one to sweep away the detritus of a war of words between brotherly nations for the sake of unity and progress; all must remain in ECOWAS for the benefit of member nations. “The recent misunderstandings and animosities are but irritating bleeps that can and should be overcome in the interest of all West Africans.
“For certain, lessons have been learnt as to how to process such regrettable political developments that, ipso facto, engendered the acrimonious misunderstandings.”
By John Shiklam in Kaduna
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