President Bola Tinubu, the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, has called for the suspension of economic sanctions imposed on Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea by the regional body.
Speaking at an Extra-ordinary Summit in Abuja, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of pursuing a path that leads to genuine improvement in the welfare of the people through democratic good governance, as agreed upon in regional treaties and protocols.
He expressed concern that the sanctions, intended to bring the countries to the negotiating table, had become ineffective and were hindering progress. President Tinubu reiterated ECOWAS’s commitment to improving the lives of the people in the region through cooperation.
President Tinubu stressed the need for compassion, hope, and harmony, especially as the holy month of Ramadan and Lent approached. He called for the suspension of sanctions and the facilitation of the unfettered flow of humanitarian items to the affected nations, including the prompt resumption of Nigeria’s export of electric power to Niger.
The President urged greater cooperation within the ECOWAS community to address common challenges such as climate change, violent extremism, and the illegal pilfering of natural resources.
He called on the leadership of Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger to embrace dialogue and work together for the economic development of their people.