As part of efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore democracy in Niger Republic, Nigeria government says it has disconnected the supply of 150 megawatts of electricity daily to the country with immediate effect.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) carried out the disconnection on Tuesday night as directed by ECOWAS Chair and Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.
Although the Managing Director/CEO of TCN, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, has yet to speak officially on the matter, a source at TCN confirmed the development as part of sanctions to force the Niger junta to restore constitutional democracy in the country.
“It is true Niger was disconnected from the national grid last night based on the instruction of the government. Nigeria used to supply 150 megawatts, MW of power to Niger.
“It is total disconnection in line with ECOWAS moves to restore democracy in that country,” he said.
Meanwhile, military chiefs from the ECOWAS regional bloc have said military intervention in junta-ruled Niger was “the last resort”.
“(The) military option is the very last option on the table, the last resort, but we have to prepare for the eventuality,” said Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
An ECOWAS team headed by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar was in Niger to “negotiate”, added Musah, speaking at the start of a three-day meeting of the grouping’s military chiefs in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
Also, UK Foreign Secretary, Mr James Cleverly, said his country was in support of the position taken by ECOWAS on the coup in Niger Republic which led to the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Persecondnews recalls that on July 30, ECOWAS Heads of State had at its extraordinary summit in Abuja given the coup plotters seven days to restore President Bazoum to power or face military action.
Briefing State House correspondents after an audience with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Cleverly said: “We touched briefly on the situation in Niger. I made the point that the UK very much welcomes ECOWAS’ and his (Tinubu’s), indeed, decisive action, his strong commitment to democracy and the unambiguous message that violence is not the means to bring political change in any circumstance.
“And that the commitment to democracy in Nigeria and the region is unwavering.”
The President of ECOWAS Commission, Mr Omar Touray, said in a communique: “Such measures may include the use of force. To this effect, the Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately.”
Apart from the seven-day ultimatum, the ECOWAS Authority also imposed immediate sanctions on Niger, including the closure of land and air borders between member-states and Niger.
They equally established a no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger and suspended all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger.
Furthermore, assets of the Republic of Niger in the ECOWAS Central Bank, Niger State enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks are also to be frozen.
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