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Tag: ECOWAS

  • 20-Member Tunisian Delegation Arrives in Nigeria for Economic Forum

    20-Member Tunisian Delegation Arrives in Nigeria for Economic Forum

    By   Milcah   Tanimu

    A 20-member Tunisian delegation has arrived in Nigeria for the Nigeria-Tunisia Economic Forum, marking a significant step in enhancing economic collaboration between the two nations. Led by Anis Jaziri, president of the Tunisia Africa Business Council, the delegation was warmly welcomed by Tunisian ambassador to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday afternoon.

    The Nigeria-Tunisia Economic Forum, which commenced on Tuesday and will run through Friday, aims to foster investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral economic ties. The forum is organized with the support of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. This event is expected to serve as a pivotal platform for exploring various sectors, including construction, information technology, health, trading, engineering, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals.

    Anis Jaziri emphasized the unprecedented nature of this visit, noting that such a large delegation from Tunisia, representing multiple sectors of its economy, is a rare occurrence. The delegation’s diverse expertise is anticipated to facilitate meaningful discussions and potential partnerships.

    Ambassador Antit highlighted the strategic choice of Nigeria as the venue for this forum, citing the country’s status as Africa’s largest economy and the richest member state of ECOWAS. He underscored the importance of this forum in continuing the momentum from the first Financing Investment Trade Africa (FITA) forum, held in Tunisia in June, which saw participation from more than 35 Nigerian companies.

    Antit also called for increased intra-African trade, expressing concern over the historical trend of African nations engaging more in trade with countries outside the continent. He emphasized the need for African countries to focus more on strengthening economic ties within the continent to drive growth and development.

    The forum is expected to address key issues in bilateral trade, explore new investment opportunities, and enhance cooperation between Nigerian and Tunisian businesses. With various sectors represented, the forum is poised to be a significant event in fostering economic growth and collaboration between the two nations.

  • UNOCT, ECOWAS sign MoU on terrorism prevention in Region

    UNOCT, ECOWAS sign MoU on terrorism prevention in Region

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today on how to strengthen their partnership in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism in the region.

    The MoU was signed by Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and Mr. Vladimir Voronkov, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, during a bilateral meeting at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.

    The MoU is a framework for cooperation between both entities covering a five years on a range of security and counter-terrorism initiatives.

    The MoU contains preventative efforts to counter terrorist travel, financing, access to weapons and misuse of information and communications technologies; border security and management; prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration (PRR), and the delivery of counter-terrorism training programmes in Africa.

    The agreement also makes provisions for UNOCT support to ECOWAS and its Member States in the implementation of the ECOWAS 2020-2024 Action Plan on Eradicating Terrorism.

    Under-Secretary-General Voronkov who welcomed the agreement noted that the comprehensive cooperation framework for the next 5 years.

    Dr. Touray expressed ECOWAS commitment to collaborate with the UN through UNOCT to address the multifaceted dimensions of terrorism, including the root causes such as youth empowerment, the fight against human rights violations and other governance deficits.

    The ECOWAS and UNOCT agreement will kick start a joint plan of action to put the agreement into practice, building on existing coordination platforms, with the AU-UN Technical Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and PCVE.

    It will also explore opportunities to develop and undertake joint or collaborative activities with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact.

  • ECOWAS, Germany promote feminist dev. trains stakeholders on reporting women peace, security agenda

    ECOWAS, Germany promote feminist dev. trains stakeholders on reporting women peace, security agenda

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The ECOWAS Commission organized a three-day in-country capacity-building workshop for national stakeholders and focal people on monitoring and reporting Women, Peace and Security Agenda, WPS, in Abuja, Nigeria.

    The 3 days workshop which held from September 19th to 21st, 2023 was organized by ECOWAS Commission’s Human Security and Civil Society Division and the GIZ ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operation (EPSAO) Project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

    The Minister for Women Affairs, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Barr. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye who was represented by Mrs. Funke Oladipo, Director of Women Development stated that since Nigeria’s domestication of UNSCR-1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the Ministry with key stakeholders had continued to implement initiatives identified in the second national Plan and is currently developing its third edition.

    It has also sustained its support to women peace builders, and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in their demands for justice and pushing for women’s meaningful participation in peace building processes.

    The Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, said the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on October 31, 2000, established the global agenda on women, peace, and security recognizing the disproportionate impact of violent conflict on women and girls, under-representation of women in formal peace processes and importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective in peace and security architecture.

    According to Sintiki, the simplified Continental Results Framework (CRF) was developed to serve as a systematic tool for monitoring and reporting on the WPS agenda.

    She further stated that ECOWAS has simplified the tool to make it user-friendly. According to her, the purpose of this training is to build the capacity of stakeholders to utilize the tool and provide the needed data and information to be used for advocacy and resource mobilization in West Africa,

    The representative of the GIZ-EPSAO Project, Ms. Tamwakat Golit reiterated the organization’s commitment to assisting ECOWAS in achieving just and strong societies in the West African region through its Feminist Development Policy, which aims to eliminate structures that discriminate against women, girls, and the marginalized.

  • ECOWAS Commission, AfDB Jointly Review 2020- 2025 RISP

    ECOWAS Commission, AfDB Jointly Review 2020- 2025 RISP

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The ECOWAS Commission and the African Development Bank (AfDB), on Tuesday in Abuja began a joint consultation meeting on the mid-term performance reviews
    of the Regional Integration Strategy Paper (RISP) for West Africa for 2020-2025.

    The meeting, which began today, Tuesday, September 5th, will end on Friday, September 8, 2023.

    In a statement made available to Daybreak today, the meeting will focus on a number of topics, including the challenges and prospects of regional integration in West Africa, the state of cooperation between the Commission and the Bank, the Bank’s strategic orientation and priority areas of intervention, and future priority projects between the two institutions.

    Furthermore, interventions to be discussed include economic affairs, agriculture, human development and social affairs, infrastructure, energy and digitalization, political affairs, peace and security, transportation, energy, and information and communication technology.

    Expected outcomes of the meeting is a report outlining the primary conclusion and recommendations of the Bank’s engagement with the Commission and it will be submitted to the leadership of both the Bank and the ECOWAS Commission.

  • Niger Junta Asserts Willingness to Defend, Rejects War Amid ECOWAS Tensions

    Niger Junta Asserts Willingness to Defend, Rejects War Amid ECOWAS Tensions

    By Daniel Edu

    Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the leader of the mutineers who seized control in Niger, conveyed on Saturday that his country’s intentions do not align with war, yet it remains prepared to safeguard itself if required.

    Tchiani, as reported by Al Jazeera, stated, “Neither the armed forces nor the people of Niger desire conflict, but we are resolute in resisting any form of aggression.”

    He highlighted that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member nations fail to realize Niger’s pivotal role in preventing regional destabilization in the face of escalating terrorist activities.

    Tchiani underscored that the sanctions imposed by ECOWAS were designed to exert pressure on the insurgents and not to address the current crisis constructively.

    Furthermore, Tchiani asserted that the rebel faction’s objective isn’t to seize power but rather to find a resolution that aligns with the people’s interests.

    Over the weekend, reports indicated an ECOWAS delegation’s arrival in Niger’s capital for discussions with the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to assess his detention conditions. The delegation also engaged in talks with Tchiani, as reported by Reuters.

    The coup, which occurred on July 26, led to the ousting and detainment of President Bazoum by his own guards, under the leadership of Tchiani.

    Subsequent to the coup, ECOWAS suspended financial assistance to Niger, froze rebel-held assets, and enforced a ban on commercial flights to and from the country.

    During an August summit in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, ECOWAS leaders agreed to activate a standby military force, potentially to compel the Nigerien military to reinstate Bazoum.

    On Friday, Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, disclosed that ECOWAS chief military officers had agreed on a commencement date for military intervention, which they chose not to disclose publicly.

  • Niger Coup: 5 Possible Problems Nigeria May Suffer If ECOWAS Chooses Military Intervention

    Niger Coup: 5 Possible Problems Nigeria May Suffer If ECOWAS Chooses Military Intervention

    Authorities of the Economic Communities of West Africa (ECOWAS) have made a bold decision to militarily intervene in the Niger coup crisis to reinstate the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and restore the country’s democracy.

    The West African leaders resolved to go this route at their emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday, August 10, 2023, following a series of unsuccessful diplomatic talks with the coup leaders.

    Out of the 16 countries in West Africa, Niger has Mali and Burkina Faso as allies. Both countries have declared that any attempt by the ECOWAS to militarily intervene in the political crisis in Niger would be considered a declaration of war against them.

    Interestingly, the junta headed by General Abdourahamane Tiani is ostensibly unperturbed by the ECOWAS threats and sanctions as the coup leaders on Thursday announced the formation of a new government.

    If the ECOWAS eventually sends its troops to Niger, Nigeria will certainly have some problems to deal with.

    Here are the five problems Nigeria will face if the Niger military leaders choose war over peace.

    Refugee crises
    Humanitarian crises are the first problems Nigeria will have to deal with if the impasse degenerates into a full-blown war.

    Given its proximity to Niger, Nigeria will through its porous border receive large groups of refugees and displaced persons flooding into the country for safety.

    Seven Nigerian states - Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno - will have these problems to contend with because of the several border communities they share with the Republic of Niger.

    Casualties
    History says there have been wars without casualties. But a war involving several countries with each of them deploying its tanks, boots and riffles will no doubt record civilian deaths.

    It is on record that Nigeria lost at least 500 soldiers when it led the ECOMOG troops - the military arm of the ECOWAS - to Liberia in 1990.

    Nigerian civilians resident in Liberia were equally affected by the war and according to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, “We will never know the number of our civilians who lost their lives in the process of the Liberian conflict.”

    Already, Italy and France have evacuated their citizens from Niger. It remains to be seen what the Nigerian Government would do for its citizens resident in Niger to avoid collateral damage should the war happens.

    Arms proliferation
    When a war ends, it leaves a trail of arms proliferation that conduces another crisis in a war-torn country and its next-door neighbours.

    Years after the Libya war, Nigeria still struggles to contain the insurgency and banditry that developed as a result of the proliferation of arms smuggled into the country through the Niger and Chad borders.

    Unfortunately, five of the seven Northwest states, where banditry is rife in Nigeria share borders with Niger.

    What this means for Nigeria is that, if the war happens, banditry in the Northwest would disastrously intensify.

    Increase in terrorists’ activities

    Illegal possession of arms and weapons will automatically increase the rate of violent crimes in Nigeria.

    Nigeria currently ranks 8th in the list of countries with the worst terrorism impact, no thanks to the rise in bandits and terrorist activities in the past few years.

    With the looming war in Niger, the rate of violent crimes in Nigeria would increase exponentially if the government fails to secure the porous borders through which arms and weapons are smuggled into the country.

    Economic impact

    Local businesses in Nigerian states that share borders with Niger are already feeling the heat of the ECOWAS border closure sanction against the country.

    Prices of food and other goods are on the rise as Nigerian business owners are reportedly taking advantage of the sanctions imposed on Niger.

    In the last few days, a sack of 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of corn is said to have increased by 24%.

    The situation would worsen and Nigerians in border communities would feel the heat more if diplomacy completely fails between the ECOWAS and the junta.

  • Niger Junta Threatens To Kill President Bazoum If ECOWAS Military Intervene

    Niger Junta Threatens To Kill President Bazoum If ECOWAS Military Intervene

    Niger’s junta has threatened to kill ousted President Mohamed Bazoum if neighbouring countries attempt any military intervention to reinstate him.

    According to a report by The Associated Press on Thursday, two “Western officials” said the putschists issued the threat while speaking to a top U.S. diplomat.

    This came shortly before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it had directed the deployment of a “standby force” to restore democracy in Niger, after its deadline of Sunday to restore Bazoum’s government expired.

    The threat to the deposed president raises the stakes both for ECOWAS and for the junta, which has shown its willingness to escalate its actions since it seized power on July 26.

    Niger was seen as the last country in the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert that Western nations could partner with to counter jihadi violence linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group that has killed thousands and displaced millions of people.

    The international community is scrambling to find a peaceful solution to the country’s leadership crisis.

    The AP report disclosed that a Western military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said representatives of the junta told U.S. Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland of the threat to Bazoum during her visit to the country this week.

    A U.S. official reportedly confirmed that account, also speaking on condition of anonymity, because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

    The threats from both sides escalate tensions but hopefully nudge them closer to actually talking, said Aneliese Bernard, a former U.S. State Department official who specialised in African affairs and is now director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors, a risk advisory group.

    “Still, this junta has escalated its moves so quickly that it’s possible they do something more extreme, as that has been their approach so far,” she cautioned.

    Nine leaders from the 15-member West African bloc met Thursday in Abuja, to discuss their next steps.

    Speaking after the talks, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, said he could only reaffirm the decisions by “the military authorities in the subregion to deploy a standby force of the community.”

    Financing had been discussed and “appropriate measures have been taken,” he said.

    He blamed the junta for any hardship caused by the sanctions imposed on Niger and said further actions by the bloc would be taken jointly.

    “It is not one country against another country. The community has instruments to which all members have subscribed to,” he said.

    A former British Army official who has worked in Nigeria told the AP the ECOWAS statement could be seen as the green light to begin assembling their forces with the ultimate aim of restoring constitutional order.

    With regard to the use of force, the official, who was not authorised to speak to the media, said there was currently nothing in place other than Nigerian forces. Without enablers and the support of other regional armies, it’s unlikely they’d enter, the official said.

    ECOWAS has imposed harsh economic and travel sanctions on Niger, but analysts say it may be running out of options as support fades for intervention. The bloc has failed to stem past coups in the region: Niger is the fourth of its member states to undergo a coup in the last three years.

  • ECOWAS Standby Force Deployed To Reinstate Constitutional Order in Niger

    ECOWAS Standby Force Deployed To Reinstate Constitutional Order in Niger

    The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in NIger Republic.

    The President of ECOWAS, Omar Alieu Touray made the declaration while reading the resolution of ECOWAS on the Niger coup at the ECOWAS Extraordinary meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

    It also called on the African Union, AU, partner countries and institutions to support the resolution taken by the sub-regional body.

    ECOWAS said all efforts made to dialogue with Niger Republic military junta have been defiantly rejected by coup leaders as they condemn continuous detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and his family members.

    The resolution partly reads, “Direct the committee of the Chief of Defence Staff to activate the ECOWAS stand-by force with all its elements immediately.

    “Order the deployment of the ECOWAS stand-by force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

    “Underscore its continued commitment to the restoration of constitutional order through peaceful means.”

    The details of any eventual military deployment by ECOWAS states and its impact on Niger were not immediately clear.

    “All is not lost yet” for a “peaceful solution, as a roadmap to restore democracy and stability”, said Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who chaired the crisis meeting.

    But he added: “No option is taken off the table, including the use of force as a last resort.

    “If we don’t do it, no one else will do it for us.”

    Before the closed-door talks, Tinubu had insisted that “we prioritise diplomatic negotiations and dialogue as the bedrock of our approach”.

    Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara noted that the West African bloc “has intervened in the past, in Liberia, in Sierra Leone, in Gambia and Guinea-Bissau” when constitutional order in the countries was threatened.

    “Today we have a similar situation in Niger, and I like to say that ECOWAS cannot accept this,” he said.

    ‘We must engage’
    The 15-nation bloc is struggling to stem military takeovers that have now swept through four of its members in three years, potentially heralding fresh instability in a region struggling for years against jihadist insurgences.

    Before the meeting, Tinubu acknowledged that “the seven-day ultimatum we issued during the first summit has not yielded the desired outcome”.

    An attempt this week to send a joint team of ECOWAS, UN and African Union representatives to Niger’s capital Niamey was rejected by the coup leaders.

    “We must engage all parties involved, including the coup leaders, in earnest discussions to convince them to relinquish power and reinstate President Bazoum,” he said.

    But the coup leaders on Thursday signalled further defiance by appointing a new government.

    A 21-member cabinet will be headed by Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, a civilian, with generals from the new military governing council leading the defence and interior ministries.

    The possibility of military intervention in Niger, a fragile nation that ranks among the world’s poorest, sparked debate within ECOWAS and warnings from neighbouring Algeria as well as Russia.

    Niger’s neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, both ruled by military governments that seized power in coups, also warned an intervention would be a “declaration of war” on their countries.

  • Niger Coup: Islamic Council, Catholic Bishops Warn Against Military Incursion

    Niger Coup: Islamic Council, Catholic Bishops Warn Against Military Incursion

    More organisations, including Islamic leaders and Christian leaders, have voiced their support for a peaceful approach to resolving the crisis in Niger Republic following the military coup d’état that ousted President Muhammed Bazoum.

    Yesterday, both the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Catholic Bishops in West Africa urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and, in particular, President Bola Tinubu to avoid military action in Niger due to the ugly consequences of armed conflict on the ordinary people.

    The apex Islamic body, headed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, advised ECOWAS and President Tinubu to retrace their hard stance against the Republic of Niger.

    The NSCIA, which gave the admonition in a statement issued by its deputy secretary-general, Prof. Salisu Shehu, yesterday, said such hard stance, including economic sanctions, are counter-productive and will eventually end in futility.

    According to the NSCIA, both Nigerians and Nigeriens share common history and borders; therefore, imposing more stringent sanctions against Niger will have negative socio-economic implications – more pain and difficulties for the suffering masses – while the junta, with control of state resources, can live in comfort.

    The Council observes with dismay that although the military junta in Niger has remained defiant, ECOWAS has just lately further imposed more stringent sanctions against it. But it is well known that such kinds of economic sanctions are counter-productive and eventually end in futility. It is the masses that do suffer the pains and difficulties of the sanctions while the junta that seizes power takes control of state resources and begins a life of indulgence. The Council therefore, calls on ECOWAS and in particular, the Nigerian Government to retrace their steps in this regard to avoid correcting wrong with another,” NSCIA’s statement read in part.

    NSCIA also reminded President Tinubu who is spearheading the imposition of sanctions on Niger that thousands of Nigerian refugees are in Niger to whom the country provided succor and safe abode for several years now, insisting that, that rare hospitality and kindness should not be reciprocated with measures that would cause disaffection, breed hate and hostility and aggravate the sufferings of the downtrodden people across both sides of the borders.

    “While it is understandable that the leadership of both ECOWAS and Nigeria must preserve and protect democracy by discouraging forceful take-over of power through military coup d’état, the NSCIA strongly implores the federal government of Nigeria and, by extension, the leadership of ECOWAS to continue to tread the path of dialogue rather than resorting to violence. This is because violence does more harm than the intended good in any circumstance. Should violence break out in Niger, it is the helpless and hapless masses, who had already been devastated and impoverished by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the world economy, that would pay the very costly price, not the coup plotters,” the statement added.

    Similarly, Catholic Bishops under the auspices of Reunion of Episcopal Conferences of West Africa (RECOWA) has urged the authority of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to avoid the use of force to restore the constitutional regime in Niger Republic, expressing concern about the consequences of the proposed military intervention in the country.

    RECOWA, which comprises all Catholic Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops in West Africa, also urged the sub-regional leaders to learn from what happened in Libya in 2011, describing it as a tragic example of the disastrous consequences for people’s lives, dignity and future.

    The bishops expressed their concerns in a two-page letter addressed to the president of ECOWAS, Heads of State of ECOWAS and the Transitional Authorities in Niger, on August 7, calling for dialogue and reconciliation rather than belligerence and military response.

    The letter, signed by the president of RECOWA and Bishop of Agboville, Most Rev. Alexis Touabli Youlo, is sequel to the military coup that displaced the democratically elected government of President Mohammed Bazoum in Niger Republic and the resolve of the ECOWAS Authority to deploy all means necessary, even the use of force, to restore the constitutional regime in Niger.

    In the two-page letter, RECOWA canvassed pacifism rather belligerence in the management of the crisis, even as it invited every actor within the sub-region to show restraint, discernment and responsibility.

    The letter read in part: “We, the Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops of the Reunion of Episcopal Conferences of West Africa, after consultations, are deeply concerned by the sub-regional tension linked to the political situation in Niger. Faced with the events currently unfolding in the sub-region, the lives of the people of West Africa are at stake.

    “Keeping as our central vision the integrity of the people and emphasising respect for human dignity and a high sense of accountability to mankind, history and God the Creator, we affirm that nothing can justify the creation or facilitation of an environment that is destructive to our people.”

    “We cannot remain silent in the face of such situations and must learn lessons to ensure that such events do not happen again, particularly with Niger as a potential epicentre of a similar crisis. As a Bishops’ conference, our mission is intimately linked to the Also, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has cautioned President Bola Tinubu not to adopt military action in addressing the impasse arising from the Niger coup.

    The SMBLF, however, commended the President for pursuing negotiation with the coup leaders through the former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and the Sultan of Sokoto, saying the process should be accelerated using other sources both within Nigeria and the neighbouring countries that can be of benefit to the cause.

    The leaders of the southern and middle belt regions stated this in a statement jointly signed by leader of the forum, Chief Dr. E. K. Clark; leader of Afenifere Chief Ayo Adebanjo; president-general, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; president, Middle Belt Forum, Dr. Pogu Bitrus; and national chairman of PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien.

    The SMBLF leaders, who condemned the removal of the democratically elected government of President Mohamed Bazoum in Niger, said, “We discourage the temptation to adopt military means to force the illegal government out of power. From our judgment, such a move will be resisted sternly by forces both within Niger and Nigeria.

    “It is important to note that several of our Nigerian communities in the extreme north do not see Niger as mere neighbours but enjoy a lot of traditional and cultural ties. In those border areas, there is no difference between a Nigerian and a Nigerien.

    “There are tenable concerns that if war comes, normal lives will be disrupted in the border communities, insecurity will increase, and there will be an influx of refugees. From our previous experience of wars, in Chad, such refugees do not stop at the border areas but penetrated the farthermost points in Nigeria and became a source of concern to all of us.”

  • Coup: ECOWAS Slam More Sanctions On Niger Republic

    Coup: ECOWAS Slam More Sanctions On Niger Republic

    The Economic Community Of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has imposed fresh sanctions on Niger Republic following a coup by the military junta.

    This is coming after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum for the reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum.

    Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngeale, who addressed journalists on Tuesday, August 8, announced that more sanctions had been imposed on the individuals and entities relating with the military junta in Niger Republic.

    Ajuri who did not share more details on the sanctions, said it is being carried out through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).