In a bid to support efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore democracy in Niger, Nigeria has disconnected the supply of 150 megawatts (MW) of electricity daily to its neighboring country. The disconnection was carried out by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Tuesday night.
The managing director/CEO of TCN, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, remained silent when questioned by Vanguard for comments on the issue. However, an anonymous source within the organization confirmed the disconnection and stated that it was in line with ECOWAS’ initiatives to restore democracy in Niger.
In response to the military coup in Niger, ECOWAS leaders had given the coup plotters a seven-day ultimatum to restore President Mohamed Bazoum to power or face military action. Military chiefs from the regional bloc, while gathering in Abuja, asserted that a military intervention in Niger would be considered as the last resort.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, emphasized the importance of negotiations, and an ECOWAS team, led by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar, was in Niger for this purpose.
The United Kingdom also expressed its support for ECOWAS’ stance on the military coup in Niger. UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, during his visit to Nigeria, commended the decisive action taken by ECOWAS and President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to democracy and rejection of violence as a means to achieve political change.
In a move to apply pressure on the junta behind the coup, ECOWAS imposed immediate sanctions on Niger, including the closure of land and air borders between member-states and Niger, establishment of a no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger, and suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger. The assets of the Republic of Niger in the ECOWAS Central Bank and Niger State enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks were also frozen.
During the extraordinary summit, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabim Musa, emphasized the need for a united front among the military in the region to restore democratic governance in Niger. He acknowledged the significance of the challenge and called for collective action to preserve peace, security, and prosperity in the West African sub-continent.
ECOWAS’ determination to restore democracy in Niger is based on the principles of unity, shared values, and a commitment to democracy, peace, and prosperity. As the situation unfolds, the region remains steadfast in its resolve to achieve stability and democratic governance in Niger.
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