The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has commended President Bola Tinubu for the reopening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with Niger Republic and the lifting of other sanctions against the country.

Tinubu had, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, on March 13, 2024, ordered the reopening of the borers, saying the directive complied with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit in Abuja on February 24.

Speaking on the development, the ACF, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. T Muhammad-Baba, on Thursday, said the president’s directive was a welcome development for Nigeria and Niger Republic, “whose border communities had groaned under the sanctions with local economic activities asphyxiated”.

It added: “The (border) communities can now look forward to a change in their challenging life conditions consequential to the sanctions. Critical supplies of food, medicines and electricity will now resume as will air travel operators and passengers see an end to the ordeals while the sanctions lasted.

Tinubu orders reopening of borders with Niger, lifts sanctions

“President 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 bonafide, listening and responsive leader concerned with the plight of the people of Nigeria, Niger and, ultimately, West Africa.”

The Forum also lauded former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon’s intervention in seeing to the end of the border closure and sanctions.

ACF, however, called on the political authorities in the Niger Republic to “reciprocate and fully exploit this window of rapprochement to reset Nigeria-Niger relations”.

ACF also urged the heads of governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic to back down on their threat to exit ECOWAS, saying: “This is no time for muscle flexing but one to sweep away the detritus of a war of words between brotherly nations for the sake of unity and progress; all must remain in ECOWAS for the benefit of member nations.”

The Star