Nigerian Northern senators serving at the country’s upper chamber have made an appeal to West African leaders to lift the sanctions imposed on the Niger Republic following the military coup in the country.
TheNewsGuru.com reports that in July 2023, the Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on the Niger Republic after coupists overthrew the democratically elected president of the country, Mohamed Bazoum.
The ECOWAS sanctions slammed on Niger included the suspension of all commercial transactions with Niger. Nigeria also cut power supply to the Niger Republic, while Ivory Coast suspended imports and exports.
The Northern Senators after a meeting yesterday at the National Assembly, urged the West African leaders to lift the sanctions.
The Senators urged the Niger junta to release the ousted President Bazoum and draw a transition timeline that was not more than two years.
The lawmakers, in a communiqué read by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi), said, “The Northern senators’ caucus, in strong terms, condemn the military intervention in democratic spaces in some West African sub-regions.
“The forum condemns in totality the coup d’état in Niger. We ask the military junta in Niger to heed the demands of other countries by freeing President Mohamed Bazoum and his immediate family to fully choose a country of his choice.
“The Northern Senators Forum further asks the junta in Niger to bring about a transition timetable that will last not more than two years.
“The Northern Senators’ Forum asks ECOWAS to lift restrictions on the Niger Republic in the interest of business at our border communities.
“It is important that Nigeriens should not suffer as a result of the coup in their country just as we are seeing what is happening in Gaza.