Northern Senators’ Forum has called on the leader of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to restore electricity supply to Niger Republic.
The senators also asked the junta in Niger to release a transition plan not exceeding two years.
Reading a communique after their emergency meeting at the National Assembly, the chairman of the forum and senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, said the sanction imposed on Niger after the coup had brought untold hardship to Nigerians sharing borders with Niger Republic.
He said, “We condemn the spate of military interventions in the democratic space of Africa. We also urged the military junta in Niger to free Mohammed Bozoum to freely choose the country of his choice.
“We want the junta to bring a transition timetable of a transition plan that is not more than 2 years,” Ningi said while calling for the restoration of electricity in Niger.
“Restrictions on Niger should be lifted because Nigerians are suffering as a result of the coup that took place and the sanction that followed. We want the airport to be open also, Ningi said while urging the president of the federal republic of Nigeria who is the leader of ECOWAS to restore electricity supply to Niger Republic in line with the treaties between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
“We assure the people of Niger Republic that we remain brothers and partners,” Ningi said, adding that they are not late in their demands.
“There is nothing too late in saving our brothers in Africa. We have shared ethnic, marital and religion. So, Nigeria should look at the issues in Niger Republic with a human face.
“If you go to the Nigeria – Niger border today, regardless of what everybody will say, things have changed. The Niger Republic was there with us even during the civil war,” Ningi said, adding that their interest is the business and the transactions and the brotherliness that has been halted. Our national interest is Africa,” Ningi added.
