President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, intimating it on the proposed military action and other sanctions against the military officers who recently seized power in the Niger Republic by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
In the letter that was read on the floor of the Upper Chamber by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, President Tinubu informed the Senate of the coup in Niger that sacked the democratically elected administration of Mohamed Bazoum and ECOWAS has against this backdrop
President Tinubu in his letter titled, "Political situation in Niger, said that "in a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and came out with a communique."
According to him, the meeting was very specific on "closure and monitoring of all land borders with Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling excercise."
Other issues also raised at the meeting include the blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports, to also carry out sensitization of Nigerians on what he described as the imperative of the actions taken, particularly through social media, adding that there would be military build up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant.
The letter read, "Following the unfortunate political situation in Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of its President, ECOWAS under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected government in a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and came out with a communique.
"Closure and monitoring of all land borders with Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise.
"Cutting off electricity supply to Niger Republic
" Mobilizing international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique
"Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic
"Blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports
"Embarking on sensitization of Nigerians and Nigerians on the imperative of these actions particularly via social media.
"Military build up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant."
In a swift reaction after the President of the Senate read the letter from President Tinubu, former deputy Senate majority leader, Abdul Ningi, PDP, Bauchi Central
raised a constitutional point of order to draw the attention of the Senate to the provisions of the Senate that show how the armed forces could be deployed on a combat duty outside Nigeria.
He said his point of order was aimed at guiding the Senate on the matter.
Ningi read section 5(5) of the Constitution which states that "Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (4) of this section, the President, in consultation with the National Defence Council, may deploy members of the armed forces of the Federation on a limited combat duty outside Nigeria if he is satisfied that the national security is under imminent threat or danger provided that the President shall, within seven days of actual combat engagement, seek the consent of the Senate and the Senate shall thereafter give or refuse the said consent within 14 days"
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