After withdrawing from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Republic of Niger has tackled the Nigerian government for withholding basic services such as electricity, water, and pharmaceuticals from its citizens.
A statement by Niger’s Foreign Affairs warned Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu against jeopardising the fraternal and historical ties shared by the two neighbouring countries.
Signed by Bintou Ouattara, head of the Ministry’s Division of Regional Economic Communities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the statement reminded Nigeria of its assistance during the Nigerian civil war against Biafra.
“With particular regard to Nigeria’s responsibility, the government of Niger notes with deep regret that history will record that the unfair, illegal, unjust, and inhumane sanctions against Niger were taken under the leadership of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, current president of the ECOWAS conference of heads of state and government.
“Then, to the irresponsible ECOWAS sanctions, Nigeria despite our neighbourly and fraternity ties, added its own punitive sanctions, namely; cutting off the supply of electrical energy indiscriminately, blocking the supply to Niger in pharmaceutical and food products,” Ouattara said.
In a joint statement on January 28, Niger Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The three junta-led West African countries faulted ECOWAS for the sanctions imposed on them as part of efforts to reverse the coups in their countries.
They also cited ECOWAS’ “drift from the spirit of pan-Africanism,” and the regional bloc’s failure to stem the insecurity and terrorism in their nations, as reasons for their withdrawal.
However, the Nigerian government condemned the exit of the three nations from ECOWAS. The regional body, headed by President Tinubu said it was shocked by the development, noting that it received no prior notification of the countries’ position. Backing the regional bloc, Nigeria reiterated ECOWAS’ mandates of promoting peace, prosperity, and democracy in the region.
