The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has resolved to resume talks with the military junta in Niger Republic.
The resolution is contained in a communique read by Omar Touray, president of ECOWAS commission, at the end of the 64th ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS on Sunday in Abuja.
The meeting, which was chaired by President Bola Tinubu, resolved to establish a committee of heads of state to engage with the Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, the military junta in Niger Republic, on the need for a short transition roadmap and the placement of monitoring mechanisms.
The ECOWAS also promised a gradual easing of sanctions imposed on the country if the military junta complies with the outcome of the negotiations, and also release detained President Mohammed Bazoum.
“The Authority deeply deplores the continued detention of President Mohammed Bazoum, his family and associates by the CMSP regime,” the communique reads.
“The Authority further deplores the lack of commitment on the part of the CMSP to restore constitutional order. Consequently, the Authority calls on the CMSP to release President Mohammed Bazoum, his family, and associates immediately and without precondition.
“The Authority decides to set up a committee of Heads of State made up of the President and Head of State of the Republic of Togo, the President and the Head of State of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the President and Head of State of the Republic of Benin, to engage with the CMSP and other stakeholders with a view to agreeing on a short transition roadmap, establishing transition organs as well as facilitating the setting up of a transition monitoring and evaluation mechanism towards this speedy restoration of constitutional order.
“Based on the outcomes of the engagement by the committee of Heads of state with the CMSP, the Authority will progressively ease the sanctions imposed on Niger.
“In the event of failure by the CMSP to comply with the outcomes of the engagement with the committee, ECOWAS shall maintain all sanctions, including the use of force, and shall request the African Union and all other partners to enforce the targeted sanctions on members of the CMSP and their associates.”
The heads of states also resolved to urgently review efforts to activate a standby force for counterterrorism operations in areas infested by terrorist groups.
This is not the first time ECOWAS would be threatening the use of force in Niger Republic.
In July, days after the coup in Niger Republic, ECOWAS gave the junta a one-week ultimatum to hand over power to the democratically elected government or face invasion.
However, the coup plotters ignored the warning and remained in power since then.
(TheCable)
economic team and also to the Federal Executive Committee on road sector funding. It is believed that the internal works through these constituted committees will help them to use external consultants to re-verify the works so that concrete decisions will be made to move the Ministry forward,” Umahi said.
The Minister noted the huge debts arising from unpaid certificates inherited from the past administration, which runs up to N1.5tr with expected contract reviews arising from inflation.
He urged contractors owed to approach the committees with all documents to back up their claims from Tuesday 12th 2023 to Friday, 22nd of December 2023 from 9 am to 7 pm at the Minister’s Conference Room, 1st floor, Federal Ministry of Works, Headquarters, Mabushi Abuja.”
Meanwhile, the Minister noted that the road sector needed a different kind of attention beyond the 2024 budget envelope received by the ministry.
“For a developing nation like Nigeria, road sector development is a catalyst for economic development. The road sector has the potential to improve the security sector, agricultural sector, trade and investment, health, education ,and, in fact, every aspect of the development of every nation.”
The Minister thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the attention given to the ministry and his approval of concrete pavement in most of the 2024 projects.
He stated that the ministry is committed to the development of road infrastructure in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr. President.
