The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the reopening of the Nigeria/Niger air and land borders, lifting of economic sanctions, restoration of power supply to Niger Republic and other restrictions.
It said the opposition to the sanctions and the threat of a Nigeria-led ECOWAS military invasion in the wake of a military coup in Niger, which were seen to only serve imperialist and neo-colonial interests, against the complex historical socio-cultural, economic and political ties which pre-dated European colonialism and its imposition of highly arbitrary boundaries.
ACF in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, described the directive from President Tinubu as a welcomed development for Nigeria and Niger, whose border communities had groaned under the sanctions with local economic activities asphyxiated.
The forum noted that the border communities can now look forward to a change in their challenging life conditions consequent to the sanctions, adding that critical supplies of food, medicines and electricity will now resume as well as air travel operators and passengers now see an end to their ordeals while the sanctions had lasted.
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“President Bola Ahmed 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 a bonafide, listening and responsive leader concerned with the plight of the people of Nigeria, Niger and ultimately, West Africa.
“ACF also appreciates the intervention by General Yakubu Gowon, former Nigerian Head of State and a founding father of ECOWAS, in seeing to the end of the imbroglio.
“Happily, the General remains active in uniting West African people around issues of common interests. May General Gowon, ACF’s amiable Grand Patron, live even longer, enjoy good health and continue to reap from God Almighty’s grace and mercies.”
ACF called on the political authorities in the Republic of Niger to reciprocate and fully exploit this window of rapprochement to reset Nigeria/Niger relations.
