Arewa Consultative Forum Applauds Tinubu’s Reopening of Nigeria-Niger Border

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has commended President Bola Tinubu for reopening the Nigeria-Niger air and land borders and lifting economic sanctions.

The move comes after a coup in Niger led to the closure of the borders in July 2023.

The ACF, in a statement on Thursday, praised President Tinubu’s decision as a welcome development for both Nigeria and Niger.

The reopening of the borders will allow critical supplies of food, medicines, and electricity to resume, as well as air travel and passenger services.

The forum also acknowledged the role of former military head of state and one of the founding fathers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), in resolving the crisis.

The ACF called on the political authorities in the Republic of Niger to reciprocate and fully exploit this window of rapprochement to reset Nigeria-Niger relations.

The forum also urged the heads of governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger (and Guinea) to back down on their threat to exit ECOWAS, emphasizing the importance of unity and progress in West Africa.

The statement highlighted that recent misunderstandings and animosities are irritating blips that can be overcome in the interest of all West African nations.

It stressed the importance of learning from these events to ensure better political cooperation and regional development.

The Arewa Consultative Forum’s praise for President Tinubu’s decision to reopen the Nigeria-Niger border highlights the significance of political unity and regional cooperation in West Africa.