House reserves right to expose reports on rejected nominees - says Speaker
The Lagos State House of Assembly has insisted on its decision not to confirm some of the commissioner-nominees sent by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for screening and approval.
The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who presided over the plenary during resumption of sitting, yesterday, said the lawmakers had concluded there is no going back on the rejected nominees despite pressures from different quarters to have the decision rescinded.
The lawmakers did not give reasons for the rejection.
It would be recalled that the House had, last Wednesday, confirmed 22 out of the 39 nominees sent by Sanwo-Olu and rejected 17.
According to Obasa, the confirmation of the 22 nominees followed a rigorous and detailed screening by an ad-hoc committee led by the Chief Whip of the House, Fatai Mojeed.
The Speaker commended the committee for its effectiveness and urged the confirmed nominees to always remember that they are in office to serve the people of the state and not individuals.
Obasa had maintained the lawmakers would continue to do their job, including their oversight functions, adding that the Assembly reserves the right to expose screening reports of the committee on the 17 rejected commissioner-nominees.
He warned those planning protests and sponsoring media articles to desist, saying the House would not be threatened over the issue.
Obasa said it was unfortunate that whenever the House refuses to be a ‘rubber stamp’ to a governor’s request, it would be interpreted that the lawmakers were fighting the governor.
“If anybody wishes to know the reasons for the decision, they should approach the House. However, we will not be forced to spill our observations,” he said.
Nigerian black-market speculators have defied the orders of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as they buy and sell the dollars far above the spread given to them in the new foreign exchange rule governing the Bureau de Change segment of the forex market.
Data gathered across different BDC markets in Abuja and Lagos showed that the naira traded between N915 to N920 per dollar depending on the seller.
The amount is far higher than the N772.12 traded at the Investors’ and Exporters’ Forex Window, renamed, the Nigeria Foreign Exchange Market.
The prices across the two different forex segments are in defiance of the rules set by the Nigerian apex bank on August 17 which prohibit the BDCs from selling or buying dollars above -2.5 per cent or +2.5 per cent of the NAFEM.
The apex bank said, “In support of the drive to improve the efficiency of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, the Central Bank of Nigeria hereby announces the underlisted operational mechanism for the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment of the market:
“The spread on buying and selling by BDC Operators shall be within an allowable limit of – 2.5 per cent to +2.5 per cent of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange market window weighted average rate of the previous day.”
The weighted average for the rate traded at the NAFEM is N772.965 per dollar as of the close of trade on Monday.
Going by the CBN operational mechanism for BDCs, the operators in the segment are supposed to exchange the naira at N792.28 per dollar.
However, the speculators are exchanging the currency at a 19 per cent spread as against the 2.5 per cent directed by the apex bank.
At least each speculator enjoys N147 to N142 arbitrage, THE WHISTLER can report.
Before the CBN came up with the policy, the naira had traded as high as N955, triggering concerns and doubts about the ability of the CBN to operate a managed float which it introduced on July 14.
JP Morgan Chase & Co in the past week released a report further exposing Nigeria’s vulnerability to Forex shock.
JP Morgan said the net reserves of Africa’s biggest economy fell to $3.7bn in 2022 from $14bn in 2021, a revelation that induced panic in the market.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended five individuals over allegations of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme using counterfeit letterheads from the Offices of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
The suspects are accused of exploiting these forged documents to unlawfully solicit funds from unsuspecting individuals.
In a statement released on Monday, EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren provided details of the arrest, which occurred on August 24, 2023. The suspects have been identified as Yakubu Mohammed, Bashir Ladan, Adamu Ibrahim, Steven Anom, and Mohammed Bello.
According to the EFCC, the suspects purportedly collaborated to fabricate imitation employment and recommendation letters, utilizing the falsified letterheads, and charging fees from unsuspecting victims.
First Bank of Nigeria has admitted that N68m belonging to Italy-based customer, Glory Omokaro was withdrawn from her account.
The bank admitted the fraud case on Monday after the victim reported the case to the popular Radio Programme, Brekete Family.
First Bank said, “We confirm the report of fraudulent activity on the account of one of our customers. This incident has been undergoing a very robust investigation since our receipt of the customer’s complaint with the goal of holistically unearthing what transpired and addressing the challenge, including satisfying the customer. Unfortunately, this has taken longer than anticipated.
“While the investigation is ongoing, we have repaired the customer’s account given the findings so far and our view that this is the best action in consideration for our customer. We regret any inconveniences this may have caused the customer and wish to emphasize that this incident is in no way reflective of the principles and ethics of our time-tested operations.”
Omokaro had traveled to Italy in 2005. She returned in 2013 to visit her family and opened a savings account with First Bank at the Ring Road Branch in Benin City, Edo State.
When she traveled back to Italy, where she was based, Omokaro deposited money into the First Bank accounts and was allegedly in touch with the branch manager, Mr Gabriel.
In 2018, during another visit to Nigeria, the victim subscribed to the bank application to enable her to track her transactions from Italy.
She also applied for a debit card, which she used to perform transactions during her stay. When she returned to Italy, Glory said her account was not tampered with until 2021, when her ATM allegedly expired.
Glory contacted the same bank manager, Gabriel, to help renew her debit card. According to her, the manager gave her the option of sending someone or coming in person to renew the card.
Glory said due to Covid-19 restrictions, she could not return. However, she returned in May 2023 and visited the bank branch to withdraw and also renew her card.
She was told in the bank that she had no money in her account with the bank.
“I met customer care and I was told that I only have N3,000 in my account and not N68m,” Peter Uvieruve, who spoke for the victim said.
She said she requested for the bank statement but the bank declined to release the statement to her.
She however, requested for the statement through a lawyer who wrote the bank. “The statement was released one week later,” Peter said.
“We discovered that on 13, October 2022, they moved N51.7m out of the account. They returned the money. We suspected that they were checking if she would complain. But she did not notice. After 24 days around November 2022, they withdrew three times from the account. The first was N9m, then N5m, N2m and another N2m until it was left with N3,000.
“We contacted, EFCC said they were only after Yahoo boys for now. We contacted the DSS and they declined. The lawyer also started behaving as though he was compromised,” he said.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, yesterday, declared that Nigeria was in a difficult economic situation. Shettima charged members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms to develop a robust roadmap that would transform the economy and take the country out of the woods.
The vice president gave the advice, when he received in audience members of the committee led by the chairman, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, at State House, Abuja.
Shettima told the committee, “The task before you is enormous, I believe you have the best brains to come up with a robust roadmap that will reposition our economy, addressing some of the fundamental issues underlying our fiscal and tax policies. Fiscal and tax policies are key to the realisation of any nation’s economic development.
“I believe you will come up with a roadmap to salvage our nation, we are in a big mess, but I have confidence in your team. This is a great nation chained by poor governance, chained by many challenges and my principal is a man of courage and conviction, he is a progressive man in the Nigerian political space.”
The vice president noted that fiscal policy and tax reforms were a potent tool for resource mobilisation. He charged the committee to make recommendations that would be quick deliverables in view of the current economic realities.
While assuring the committee of the National Economic Council’s cooperation, Shettima said, “Our focus should largely dwell on domestic resource mobilisation, especially, with trends in the world today, even the biggest economies in the world are faced with this reality.”
Shettima said fiscal policy and tax reforms were critical in meeting national aspirations, and this was taking global dimensions, with global realignment of forces, like the emergence of BRICS and other geo-political unions.
He praised the composition of the committee, stating, “I think the composition of this committee bears testimony to the seriousness that the president attaches to your mandate. Honestly, I am proud of you. I am personally conversant with some of the members of this committee, who are men and women of impeccable character, high integrity, committed and patriotic.”
Earlier, Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, Zaccheus Adedeji, revealed that the presidential committee would be interested in working with the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Shettima, “to ensure effective collaboration with the sub-national governments that are critical stakeholder groups in the task before the committee.”
Committee chairman, Oyedele, said members of the committee were “excited for this opportunity to help our country to redefine, redesign a new fiscal policy framework that is fit for our nation to thrive and deliver the Nigeria we want in order for our people to flourish in their endeavours.
“We are laser focused on our mandate as directed by Mr. President, which covers fiscal governance, revenue transformation and fiscal competitiveness and economic growth facilitation.”
He assured the vice president that the committee would engage with Nigerians both at home and abroad as well as with all segments of the society.
Oyedele also expressed the readiness of the committee to engage with sub-national governments through NEC in achieving its mandate.
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has refuted the claims that he financed the burial of the father of a Nigerian journalist and television host, Rufai Oseni.
This is coming a few days after Reno Omokri, the Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, alleged that Obi funded the funeral of Rufai’s father’s burial.
Omokri had shared <embedded link> this on his X account on August 25, with a picture of Obi and Rufai together.
He posted, “AriseTV and Mr Rufai Oseni should kindly answer the following question. Did Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, fund the funeral of Mr Rufai Oseni’s father by giving him money in cash or via electronic means, either directly or through a third party, in August 2022, and has that influenced Mr. Oseni’s open bias in favour of Peter Obi, whereby Mr. Oseni used the AriseTV platform as a medium to campaign for and launder the image of Mr Peter Obi, and his undisguised personal animosity towards me for my refusal to support Mr Peter Obi’s Presidential ambition? I counsel them to think very carefully before they answer.”
In his response on Monday via his X account, Obi disclosed that he never sponsored such, adding that it is “a categorical lie.”
“There is a recent case where my name has been mentioned in a malicious and cheap blackmail against one of Nigeria’s best Television presenters, Mr. Rufai Oseni, who has stood sternly for what is right and has challenged me fearlessly on some occasions while speaking truth to power. I have recently been mentioned to have bribed Mr. Rufai Oseni by financially sponsoring the burial of his father.
“Let me clearly state that this is a categorical lie. It is not true, cannot be true and will never be true. Everyone who understands or follows my approach to things will attest to the fact that I do not give anyone money to promote my name,” he posted.
He added that he never enticed any journalist to speak or write in his favour.
“I have never and will never monetarily induce any journalist to speak or write in my favour. When I am invited to birthday celebrations or funerals, people know that I do attend. Countless journalists, media personnel, the less privileged, the wealthy etc., have all invited me to their occasions, and they will attest to the fact that I honour such invitations, especially when people are grieving. I have never been to Rufai’s village. Even at the point of writing this, I do not know where he is from.
“One then wonders why people could decide to tarnish other people’s image for no justifiable reason. To those involved in such evil endeavours, I wish them well and pray that God will have mercy on them.”
He, however, called for the rescue of the country from the many challenges plaguing it.
“We should focus more on lifting people out of poverty. Millions of Nigerians do not know where their next meal will come from,” he said.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Monday, said it has arrested a Nigerian importer, Boniface Ike, for offering $54,330 (N50m) bribe to officers of the Tin-Can Island Command of the Service over the seizure of two 40ft containers laden with illicit and dangerous drugs imported into the country from India.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the Customs Area Controller, Tin-Can Island Port, Compt. Adekunle Oloyede, stated that the unregistered pharmaceutical products, which were intercepted at the Lagos Port, were worth N550million.
According to him, the products didn’t have the required permits and certificates for importation, hence the illicit dangerous drugs were masqueraded as electrical appliances by the importer.
LEADERSHIP reports that the missing documents are to ascertain the safety of the products for consumption by Nigerians.
Compt Oloyede said, “The Tin-Can Island Command received a timely intelligence from the Command Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), on the suspected importation of illicit dangerous drugs (unregistered regulated pharmaceutical products) concealed in 2 by 40ft containers with Bill of Landing Nos 227578945 and 227898171. On arrival of the vessel in Tincan Island Container Terminal (TICT), the containers (MRSU 592397/0 and MRKU 553432/1) were transferred immediately to the Enforcement Station for 100 per cent physical examination and further investigation.
“The physical examination was conducted on both containers by enforcement Officers, Customs Intelligence Operatives, Customs Police and Examination officers of the Terminal on Tuesday, 22 August 2023 at about 14:00hours and Wednesday, 23 August 2023 at about 13:00hours, respectively. The following were discovered: Container No MRSU 592397/0: The details on the Bill of Lading with No 227578945 stated the items laden were 1,016 packages containing Electrical Goods Ceiling Fan 36 Jewel (Cooper) and Chilly Cutters (Stainless Steel Plastic) but after examination, the container was found to contain 5 cartons of Timaking 120 Tapentadol (Tramadol) Hydrochloride Carisoprodol capsule. Each carton contains 50 rolls, each roll contains 5 packets, each packet 200 tablets.”
“The second containers, with no MRKU 553432/1; the details on Bill of Landing with number 227898171 stated the items laden were 1,021 packages containing Electrical Goods Ceiling Fan 36 Jewel (Cooper) and Chilly Cutter (Stainless Steel Plastic) but after examination the container was found to contain 10 cartons of Super Royal 225 (Tramadol). Each carton contains 50 rolls, each roll contains 10 packets, each packet 10 tablets.
“Two suspects have been arrested and are presently at the custody of the Enforcement Unit in accordance with the investigation process of the Service. One of the suspects in custody, Mr. Boniface Ike, accepted that he is the owner (Importer) of the two containers and sought to discuss privately with OC Enforcement, DC GI Aliyu and Team Manager, CIU AC H Abubakar.
“I instructed my officers to play along, the request was granted in expectation of receiving vital information from the suspect but to their bewilderment, the suspect pleaded for his freedom from detention and release of the containers while offering gratification to the tune of N50 million equivalent to $54,330 (at the current exchange rate N920). The money was collected and kept in safe custody at the Enforcement Unit to be tendered as exhibit.”
Compt. Oloyede, however, stated that persistent fraudulent nature of importers and agents has driven the Service to be more innovative in putting methods and measures to combat smuggling activities, block revenue leakage and ensure safety of Nigerians.
“The Nigeria Customs Service will not be a part of nefarious acts which will jeopardize the safety and lives of the citizens of our dear country, Nigeria, any fraudulent importer or agent who tries to perpetrate such acts will be prosecuted accordingly.
“The suspects, containers and the exhibit will be handed over to the Agencies that are in charge of regulation of such importation as soon as the Service directs and the Service may decide to prosecute according to the Service Act, Nigeria Customs Service Act (2023),” he added.
As part of a broader effort to reduce the cost of governance in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to freeze the processing of visas for all government officials seeking to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly without proof of direct participation in UNGA’s official schedule of activities, a statement by the Presidency said on Monday.
“To prevent any sharp practice in this regard, the US Mission in Nigeria is accordingly guided on official visa processing while Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York is further directed to prevent and stop the accreditation of any government official who is not placed on the protocol lists forwarded by the approving authority.
“By this directive of the President, all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies are mandated to ensure that all officials, who are approved for inclusion in the UNGA delegation, strictly limit the number of aides and associated staff partaking in the event.
“Where excesses or anomalies in this regard are identified, they will be removed during the final verification process.
“The President wishes to affirm that, henceforth, government officials and government expenditure must reflect the prudence and sacrifice being made by well-meaning Nigerians across the nation.”
The Police Service Commission has ordered four senior Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, Dan-Mallam Mohammed, Moses Jitiboh, Hafiz Inuwa and Adeleke Bode to immediately proceed on compulsory retirement for failing to retire following the appointment of their colleague, Olukayode Egbetokun, as the acting Inspector-General of Police.
The PSC, however, approved the appointment of four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Ibrahim Ka’oje, Daniel Sokari-Pedro, Ayuba Ekpeji and Usman Nagogo to the rank of DIGs pending ratification by the board of the commission to replace the retired DIGs.
The spokesperson for the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja on Monday, noting that the PSC gave the order in the exercise of its statutory powers pursuant to the Third Schedule, Part 1 M, para A&B of the 1999 Constitution, reinforced with Section 6 of the PSC (Establisment) Act 2001, para a, c, d, e, & f.
He explained that the order became imperative because the PSC had expected those DIGs who were seniors in rank prior to Egbetokun’s appointment as IG, to voluntarily retire, adding that such expected application was in consonance with the revered tradition of discipline and regimented culture of the Nigeria Police Force.
Ani said, “In the wake of the appointment of the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun on June 19, 2023 by Mr President, the Commission had expected in consonance with the revered tradition of discipline and regimented culture of the Nigeria Police Force that those DIGS who were seniors in rank prior to his elevation will voluntarily apply for retirement or elect to leave the Force.
“The Commission, having waited for ample time with no such application from any of them, took the decision to compulsorily retire them in order to uphold discipline which is the bedrock of the Force, and to discourage status reversal which is inherently inimical to the exercise of authority by the Inspector General.”
The newly appointed DIGs, who are without pending disciplinary matters and/or without any serious medical conditions and health impairments, according to Ani, were drawn from the same respective geo-political regions of the retired ones.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite the hardships being experienced in the country.
The governor called on the people of the state and Nigerians in general to trust in God, as the country can only get better with belief and hope in the Almighty.
He said this on Sunday during an interdenominational thanksgiving service to mark the Midwest Referendum and 32nd anniversary of Edo State, held at the New Festival Hall, Government House, Benin City, the state capital.
The governor noted that the glory of the new Edo Nation stood on the threshold of transformation in the area of infrastructure, development, innovation, and inclusiveness to build a State where humanity thrives.
He said: “I appreciate all those who have created time to come and worship with us at the 60th Mid-West Referendum and 32nd anniversary of Edo State.
“We are here today to praise and thank God for what He has done for us as a people. Yes, things are difficult, times are hard, and the future looks bleak, but we must thank God, as it can only get better with our belief and hope in him.
“This morning, I am expected to make some declarations upon the State and the glory of the new Edo nation.”
He added: “Today marks a pivotal movement in our journey, a sermon to unite us in our collective efforts; the dawn of this new era has unveiled a horizon of limitless possibilities.
“It is both a responsibility and privilege to grasp this opportunity with unyielding determination.
“As we stand on the threshold of transformation, let us remember the dreams that ignited our hearts and inspiration that propel our endeavour; we are the architect of this emerging glory in our beloved State.”
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The Katsina State government under the administration of Governor Umar Dikko has banned commercial motorcycles and tricycles at night across 19 Local Governments (LGs) to enhance security.
Nasiru Mu’azu, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, made this known in a statement on Sunday, August 27, 2023.
According to him, the ban was from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. everyday.
He explained that the order affects local government areas fully affected by banditry and other related crimes.
“The order affects LGs fully affected by banditry and other related crimes,” Mr Mu’azu said.
He listed the affected LGAs as Sabuwa, Dandume, Funtua, Faskari, Bakori, Kankara, Danja, Kafur, Malumfashi, Musawa, Matazu, Danmusa, Safana, and Dutsinma.
“Also affected are Kurfi, Charanchi, Jibia, Batsari and Kankia,” he said.
“Members of the public must understand that the purpose of the order is for the restoration of permanent peace in the affected areas,” the commissioner added.
In a related development, six staff of a private security company deployed to the Rivers headquarters of Winners Chapel Church, at Kaduna street, D-line, Port Harcourt are now in police net for allegedly stealing and attempting to sell property of the church.
It was gathered that the security men were intercepted by men of PHALGA Security Watch when they were conveying the heavy iron rods and other church property to a place in D-Line where the items will be sold.
The Chairman of PHALGA Security Watch, Victor Ohaji in an interview with newsmen said he got intelligence at about 1 am on Sunday morning that the security guards of the church were conveying iron rods and other church property to unknown destination with a truck.
Ohaji said he and his men quickly mobilized to the scene and trailed the church security guards to where the property was about to be sold.
Mr Ohaji said though those invited to buy the stolen items on sighting them took to their heels, they were about to arrest the six security guards and retrieved the stolen items.
The vigilante group Chairman also disclosed that he and his operatives arrested Mr Chigbo at about 3am on Sunday morning while he was vandalizing a truck belonging to Rivers State Waste Management Agency(RIWAMA) which was parked in front of a church at IKoku axis of Ikwerre road.
The driver of the RIWAMA truck, Chijioke Ani told our correspondent that he parked the truck when the diesel in the vehicle got finished, but when he came back, the truck compacting component has been vandalized.
The truck driver revealed that he was alerted by residents that Mr Chigbo who vandalized the truck was apprehended by the PHALGA Security Watch and he went to Mile 1 Police Division where the suspect is being detained.
Our correspondent who visited the office of the vigilante operatives reports that Police Officers from Olu-Obasanjo Police Division came and took the six church security guards after Mr Ohaji alerted the Divisional Police Officer(DPO).
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the security guards, but indicated that the suspects were five.
The Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Koko confirmed the incident.
SP Koko disclosed that the five security guards have been conniving and selling the irods and were taking another batch sale in the early hours of Sunday when they were arrested by the vigilante operatives.
SP Koko further stated that investigations is ongoing
Residents of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Sunday reportedly invaded and looted a warehouse where palliatives are kept.
The warehouse located in Kpansia suburb of the state capital is where the 2022 flood palliatives were stored.
However, it was not confirmed whether the subsidy palliatives provided by President Bola Tinubu to states to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal are among the items looted by the hungry residents.
Confirming the invasion of the warehouse, the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency, said the incident occured at about 7:45pm on Sunday almost an hour after the Director-General, Walamam Igrubia, alongside some BYSEMA personnel, left the warehouse premises, adding that during the 2022 flood in the state, the Agency used the warehouse to store food items.
BYSEMA in the statement condemns the action of the yet-to-be-identified persons that invaded the premises of a warehouse and also condemns the attempt to politicise the incident by opposition elements in the state.
Media
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged Nigerians with the change of attitudes, saying that Nigeria must make “difficult changes” to be respected in the comity of nations.
The president gave the admonition in Abuja on Sunday while declaring open the 2023 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the Velodrome, MKO Abiola Stadium.
According to Tinubu, even though initial reforms may be painful, Nigeria must be willing to take the hard steps to set the country on the path of growth.
“We cannot have the country we desire without the reforms we have initiated. It is painful at the beginning, in the short and medium term, but we must do what we have to do to take this nation to its great destiny. It is not about you and it is not about me. It is about our generations yet unborn, for whom we must bequeath a great and prosperous country,” Tinubu’s media aide Ajuri Ngelale’s Sunday statement quoted him as saying.
Tinubu, while lamenting Nigeria’s external debt servicing figure, described it as “unsustainable”.
“Can we continue to service external debts with 90% of our revenue? It is a path to destruction. It is not sustainable. We must make the very difficult changes that are necessary for our country to get up from slumber and be respected among the great nations of the world,” the President added.
The former Lagos State governor equally told the gathering that Nigerians need to change their attitude to make the country great.
“You are learned. I want to learn. Why are we so blessed and we are still lacking? We must have a change of attitude and a change of our mindset. We accuse our nation and its previous leaders,” he said.
“We complain a lot of the past. Is that the solution? No! Let us look forward and be determined! God has given us what we need. We must work hard with determination to make our country great and it begins with you who are seated here with me.”
Niger’s junta seeks to strengthen its grip on power and prepare for possible regional intervention
AdminThe mutinous soldiers who overthrew democratically elected Niger President Mohamed Bazoum announced a raft of measures over the weekend that analysts say are aimed at strengthening their grip on power while preparing to defend against any military attempt by regional leaders to reinstate Bazoum.
The junta led by Brig. Gen. Abdrahmane Tchiani ordered the Nigerien armed forces to go on maximum alert over “threats of aggression to the national territory” and asked the military-led governments of neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso to send troops to help defend them. It also issued a Monday deadline to the French ambassador to leave the country and held a rally to gather support to force French troops out.
France President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that the country's ambassador will remain in Niger. Macron spoke out firmly against the coup leaders while insisting that France is not Niger’s enemy.
“Our policy is the right one. It depends on the courage of President Mohamed Bazoum, the commitment of our diplomats, and of our ambassador on the ground who is remaining despite pressure,” Macron told a gathering of French ambassadors in Paris.
Seidik Abba, a Nigerien researcher and president of the Paris-based International Center for Reflection and Studies on the Sahel, said the junta is trying to reinforce its position and rebuff attempts by West Africa's regional bloc, ECOWAS, to pressure the military government to reverse the coup.
“The risk of a war (between Niger and the regional bloc) is still pretty high,” said Nate Allen, an associate professor at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. He said the junta is aligning with the regimes in Mali and Burkina Faso in “a very strong anti-Western and pro-authoritarian orientation.”
ECOWAS has said it must reverse the coup in Niger to “halt the spiral of coups” in West Africa. At a meeting Saturday with Molly Phee, the top U.S. diplomat for African affairs, the bloc’s chairman, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, accused the Niger junta of trying to “buy time” after failed talks to reinstate Bazoum, who remains in detention.
“The ECOWAS consensus is that we will not allow anyone to insincerely buy time,” Tinubu said, adding that he has been holding the bloc back “despite its readiness for all options” that could include military intervention in Niger.
Before Bazoum's ouster last month, Niger, a former French colony, was seen as the West’s last major partner against jihadi violence in the Sahel region below the Sahara Desert rife with anti-French sentiment. The cutting of ties with the French, as occurred after the military coups in Mali and Burkina Faso, shows "a new world order that is emerging in the Sahel and in a way marks the end of the post-colonial state in a lot of these countries” colonized by France, said Abba, the Sahel researcher.
ECOWAS has not provided details of what a military intervention would look like, other than that it would be led by a so-called standby force. Mali and Burkina Faso are both battling with internal security challenges, while Nigeria, which also faces deadly violence, constitutes roughly half of about 450,000 combined military personnel in the bloc’s remaining 11 member states. Guinea is also among the countries that have sided with Niger.
The bloc is in a challenging position with the Niger-Mali-Burkina Faso alliance and with its past interventions often reliant on international support, said Allen with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
The coup leaders in Niger “are planning on staying in power for the long term," he said. “That is a typical pattern we have seen in military regimes ... they overstay their welcome often for a very long time.”
[ABC]