Tinubu Meets Governors, Whose States Border Niger Republic, As ECOWAS Deadline Expires

President Tinubu on Sunday night met with governors of states bordering Niger republic, as ECOWAS deadline to the military Junta in the neighbouring country expired.

The governors are those of Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe and Kebbi States.

The outcome of the meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja, was not made public.

On Sunday, last week, ECOWAS led by president Tinub u had resolved to use force as its last option, to oust the Niger’s military junta fails to reinstate the deposed president.

The senate, the senate, the northern senate forum and several other groups had cautioned against military intervention in Niger republic

Already, Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries had shut their borders and air spaces against Niger republic.

Niger republic had also retaliated, and recalled its envoy from Nigeria.

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Meanwhile, Nigeria has cut electricity supplies to its neighbour Niger, raising fears for the humanitarian situation, while Niamey has closed the vast Sahel country’s borders, complicating food deliveries.

Senior Nigerian politicians have urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider the threatened military intervention.

“The Senate calls on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as chairman of ECOWAS to further encourage other leaders of ECOWAS to strengthen the political and diplomatic options,” Senate President Godswill Akpabio said.

Senators from northern Nigerian states, seven of which share a combined border of roughly 1,500 kilometres (900 miles) with Niger, have already advised against any intervention until all other options had been exhausted.

Tinubu himself on Thursday urged ECOWAS to do “whatever it takes” to achieve an “amicable resolution” of the crisis in Niger.