Janet Samuel, Abuja
Northern senators forum has appealed to the leadership of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore electricity to Nigerien and normalisation of relations between her and Niger Republic on humanitarian ground.
The Chairman of the forum and the Senator representing Bauchi Central, Senator Abdul Ningi made the call while speaking with Newsmen at the end of its meeting at the National Assembly, Complex in Abuja.
Senator Ningi said they will stop at nothing to save the lives of Nigeriens who they considered as brothers in Africa, saying that Nigeria is the closest country to Niger Republic having a very long term relationship, shared boundaries, ethnic lineage and religion.
While maintaining that Niger has always been there for Nigeria, even during the civil war, the Senator emphasized the need for the ECOWAS Parliament, particularly Nigeria to look at the issue of Niger from human rights perspective.
He pleaded for a lift on restrictions on Niger because of untold hardship inflicted on them as a result of the coup and the sanction that followed.
Ningi urged president Bola Tinubu who is the leader of ECOWAS to restore electricity supply to Niger Republic in line with the treaties between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
“Since the coup that took place in Niger, no single vehicle has crossed from Niger to Nigeria and no one vehicle has crossed from Nigeria to Niger.
If you go to the Nigeria-Niger boarder today, there are more than 5,000 vehicles that have been on the road in the last 3 months. We know the business relationship between Nigeria and Niger and even the human angle.
He noted that the northern senators condemned the coup from the start because of their belief in democracy, adding that Nigeria’s interest has becomes fundamental as well
