The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged the Federal Government to reopen the border between Nigeria and Niger Republic, which was shut after a military intervention in the latter.

ACF said yesterday that since July 2023, Nigeria and other ECOWAS member countries have maintained a regime of economic sanctions, along with a threat of military intervention to press the military regime in Niger into restoring the erstwhile civilian government of Mohammed Bazoum in response to the June 2023 military coup (in Niger).

The Northern group pointed out that, “after severally doubling down on the threat, ECOWAS recently announced conditional willingness to dialogue with the Nigerien military regime, without removing the threat of military action.”

In a statement by the ACF spokesman, Prof. Tukur Muhammed-Baba, the ACF condemned any change of government, anywhere, through non-constitutional means, pointing out that it, “also believes in the sanctity of bilateral or multilateral agreements including especially ECOWAS, an important organisation, which Nigeria laboured hard to ensure that it was established.”

He added: “Nigeria-Niger communities enjoy close historic socio-cultural, economic and political ties that pre-dated European colonialism and its imposition of arbitrary and artificial boundaries between our peoples.”

“In several communities across Nigeria’s seven states along the Nigeria-Niger border, the international boundary cuts right through towns and villages, marked by narrow streets only; Nigeria and Niger have enjoyed friendly diplomatic and fraternal relationships, which had never soured until the ECOWAS sanctions.

“Also, socio-economic and commercial ties have existed between Nigeria and Niger, ties that remain economic lifelines for many communities in Nigeria and Niger.

“Thus, the imposition of sanctions in food, medicine, electricity, etc., constitutes collective punishment for Niger’s most vulnerable peoples.

“The negative impact of the sanctions has been affecting both Nigeria and Niger. For example, Niger has withdrawn its troops from the Multi-National Joint Task fighting Boko Haram terrorists in Northeast Nigeria and neighbouring countries; and the economies of border communities have been crippled with serious hardship for people’s livelihoods.

“From various angles, the current state of Nigeria-Niger relationship defies logic and for mutual enlightened self-interests, it is time for a reset in Nigeria – Niger relationship.

“ACF therefore joins the group of Northern Senators and other well-meaning Nigerians that continue to call for the re-opening of the Nigeria-Niger border, restoration of electricity supply to Nigeria Republic and lifting of sanctions on the supply of food, medicines and other basic amenities to the vulnerable populations of Niger Republic.”