Nigeria’s Military on Alert, Cuts Power Supply to Niger as ECOWAS Continues Dialogue

•Tinubu throws country into darkness, cuts power supply 

•Commissioner says failing to act may diminish regional bloc

•Dismisses threats from Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau 

•Hints on standby force to protect democracy in W’Africa

Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos, Kingsley Nwezeh and Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian government, has put its armed forces on standby to carry out military action against the coupists in Niger Republic, if the ongoing dialogue by the Heads of Government of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) failed.

THISDAY learnt last night that the move was part of the ECOWAS resolution, where member states were obligated to place their armed forces on standby in case there would be a need for military action, which they stressed would be a last resort.

Also, to show a degree of seriousness with a clear message, major cities in Niger had begun to face rolling blackouts as Nigeria, on the instruction of President Bola Tinubu, had cut supplies to its northern neighbour, the country’s electricity company, Nigelec has said.

Also, yesterday, ECOWAS restated its decision to use military force to restore democratic rule in the Republic of Niger, saying failure to do so could render the regional bloc a laughing stock in the committee of democratic nations.

It however, dismissed threats by Mali, Bukina Faso and Guinea Bissau led by military regimes, who threatened war against any military action in Niger.

It claimed that the three countries were signatories to the ECOWAS protocol on democracy, adding also that, following a decision by the member states, the ECOWAS standby force would be activated to protect democracy in West Africa and fight terrorism.

Already, the Nigerian government, led by Tinubu, as Head of ECOWAS, had taken part in the dialogue by sending a high-powered delegation to discuss with the military junta.

In the same breath, the military hierarchy was in a  meeting of the defence chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) yesterday in Abuja.

At the meeting where the Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, had called for “collective attention and a united response” among ECOWAS defence chiefs to restore democratic governance in Niger”, the directive to muster forces through the Defence Headquarters, leaked to the public.

The leaked document that surfaced online last night had showed in the  military order an instruction for the Nigerian Army (NA), the Nigerian Navy (NN) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to muster forces for possible deployment.

The NA was instructed to muster two battalions, the NN to assemble its Special Boat Services (the specialised tactical group of the navy likened to the Israeli navy seals), while the NAF was to provide one regiment company.  The assembled troops were directed to commence movement of platforms to one of the Northern states pending the directive to enforce democracy in Niger Republic.

To that extent, the order said a ‘No Fly Zone’ would be enforced by the troops over Niger Republic, meaning all aircraft would be forbidden to fly over the conflict zone except with special authorisation.

The leaked letter has begun to cause severe unease at the DHQ given the sensitive nature of the information contained therein.

THISDAY gathered the military has begun moves to investigate, who leaked the ‘Order Note’ and to close all loopholes in leaking sensitive documents to the public until they were declassified.

Tinubu Throws Niger into Darkness, Cuts Power Supply

Major cities in Niger are already facing rolling blackouts as Nigeria has cut supplies to its northern neighbour, the country’s electricity company, Nigelec has said.

West African trade bloc, the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) had put sanctions on Niger, but did not indicate if these included electricity supplies, the BBC reported.

On Sunday, West African leaders gave Niger’s military junta a week to give up power or face possible military consequences.

Speaking, yesterday, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said an armed intervention would be a “last resort”. But he insisted that the bloc had to “prepare for the eventuality”.

ECOWAS has vowed to end the wave of coups that has plagued West Africa’s Sahel region in recent years. With this in mind, Musah said there was “a need to demonstrate that we cannot only bark, but can bite.”

The juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso had warned ECOWAS against any intervention in Niger, insisting any military action against the new regime would be tantamount to a “declaration of war” against them. They did not send their defence chiefs to the meeting in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

Residents living in the cities of Niamey, Maradi and Zinder have now had power for about an hour at a time before it was switched off for up to five hours. Power cuts like those were unusual in Niger, which normally had regular and reliable supplies.

But the country is heavily dependent on its wealthier neighbour to the south, Nigeria, as its main supplier of electricity. In 2019, Nigelec’s chief executive told the Ideas For Development outlet that Niger relied on Abuja for up to 70 per cent of its electricity supply.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), it said, declined to comment on the power cuts in Niger. But an anonymous source told the BBC the supply to Niger was cut on Tuesday following a presidential directive.

The federal government recently defended why the country sells electricity to neighbouring countries, adding that it was for strategic reasons, including the damming of the river leading from its neighbours.

“We have dammed the river and if we don’t provide electricity to countries that are upstream on the river, they can also build their dams which will create a major crisis for the country. So there is a strategic reason. If they are able to dam the river upstream, we are in trouble,” the government said.

Failing to Act May Diminish Regional Bloc, Says Musah

ECOWAS), yesterday, restated its decision to use military force to restore democratic rule in the Republic of Niger, saying failure to do so would render the regional bloc a laughing stock in the committee of democratic nations.

It however, dismissed threats by Mali, Bukina Faso and Guinea Bissau-led by military regimes, who threatened war against any military action in Niger.

It claimed that the three countries were signatories to the ECOWAS protocol on democracy, adding also that, following a decision by the member states, the ECOWAS standby force would be activated to protect democracy in West Africa and fight terrorism.

It said a delegation of the ECOWAS commission, including former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, was already in Niger in pursuit of preventive diplomacy.

The regional body also challenged military chiefs of member countries to prove that they were “democratically-minded,” just as ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff vowed to restore democratic governance in Niger.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the meeting of defence chiefs held at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musa, said if the situation in Niger was sustained, West Africa would become a laughing stock in the committee of democratic nations.

The chief, who cited another failed coup attempt in Sierra Leone, said, “In Sierra Leone, some officers were arrested for the same thing a few days ago. If we do not arrest the situation, West Africa will become a laughing stock. There is no way we can contain the situation without the leadership of Nigeria.”

“President Tinubu in his remarks said there should be zero tolerance for coups in Africa. Tinubu is being challenged and we need to show that we can bark and bite.”

According to him, “Mali and Bukina Faso have said military action will be seen as a declaration of war. As long as they are signatories to ECOWAS protocol on democracy, that cannot be tolerated. The president of Niger and family are held hostage. We cannot allow that. We will restore constitutional order. The heads of state said nothing is off the table.

“This is a clarion call to military  leaders to show that they are democratically-minded leaders. ECOWAS relies on you. The military is supposed to be fighting terrorists and threats to states not deposing democratic governments,” he said.

He explained that, the situation in Niger prompted ECOWAS leaders to rapidly consider the activation of a standby force.

“The events in Niger had prompted members, leading to the decision of the ECOWAS heads of state to decide on the need to rapidly activate the ECOWAS standby force. If need be, it could be used to restore democracy.

“In the past three years, there has been 8-9 coup plots with five being successful military coups in west Africa. ECOWAS at a point supported democratic governance to the point that all member states were democracies now the reverse is the case,” he said.

Ambassador Musa, who noted that the regional group was also exploring the option of preventive diplomacy, said, “ECOWAS is also engaged in preventive diplomacy. As I speak with you, ECOWAS Commission President is on his way to Niger with Abdulsalam Abubakar to negotiate with the military to resolve the issues.

“Diplomacy is being given a chance to succeed. If it works that is our preferred option but if it fails, we will resort to the last option,” he said.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Musa, while speaking espoused that the military chiefs of the regional bloc were committed to the restoration of democratic rule in Niger Republic irrespective of the challenge ahead.

“The events that transpired in one of our countries on 26 July 2023, has reverberated across our borders, affecting us all. The recent coup d’etat in the Republic of Niger is one event that calls for our collective attention and a united response.

“We must face the challenges of restoring democratic governance in Niger head-on, drawing on our shared experiences, wisdom, and collective resolve. Our decisions will have far-reaching implications for the ECOWAS region,” he said.

Musa stated that “the strength of ECOWAS lies in unity, shared values, and commitment to democracy, peace, and prosperity. In this regard, we are tasked with a mission to restore democracy in the Republic of Niger and preserve germane humanitarian principles across the region.

“Our decisions will inevitably shape the lives of millions of people around the sub-continent,” he said.

Countries attending the meeting included Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Sierra Leone, Cape Verde, Senegal and Liberia.

Mali, Bukina Faso, Guinea, Guinea Bissau were absent at the meeting.

Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, was overthrown in a military coup last week by his own presidential guards, who stood watch outside his palace.

The constitution was suspended and General Abdourahmane Tchiani, Chief of the Presidential Guard, was installed as the head of state.

The military government has now announced the reopening of Niger’s borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad. Its borders with Nigeria remain closed.

A delegation from ECOWAS arrived in Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Wednesday as mediation continues following the coup. It was led by Nigeria’s former military head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who oversaw that country’s transition from military rule to democracy in 1999.

Nigeria’s most senior Muslim leader, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III, is also reported to be part of the team. He also wields huge influence in Niger, part of which used to be in the Sokoto Caliphate, a powerful kingdom before colonial rule.

Evacuation flights have now started to arrive in Europe. Some 262 French citizens touched down in Paris early yesterday amid anti-French sentiment in the country.

The coup has prompted demonstrations against the former colonial power, with the French embassy coming under attack.

France says it has no plans to repatriate about 1,000 French soldiers stationed there as part of efforts to counter Islamist militants.