President Bola Tinubu has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) to impose additional financial sanctions on the Niger Republic.
This was disclosed by Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, at an interactive session with State House Journalists on Tuesday.
Speaking on the President’s position on the sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS), they said the mandates remain a regional decision, not a “Nigerian mandate and ultimatum”.
“The President has directed the acting Governor of the CBN to impose another slew of financial sanctions on institutions, including individuals who do business with the Republicans of Niger”, he said
Ngelale, who did not disclose the nature of the sanction, urged Nigerians not to view the ECOWAS sanctions as a Nigerian sanction, adding that “they should not be viewed from ethnic and religious connotations.”.
“Concerning the ultimatum given to the military Junta in Niger Public, it is not a Nigerian mandate, and the office of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also serving as the Chairman of ECOWAS, seeks to emphasize this point.
“Due to specific domestic and international media coverage, tending toward personalization of the ECOWAS sub-regional position to his Preston and our nation individually, it is because of this that Mr President has deemed it necessary to state unequivocally that the mandate and injunction issued by ECOWAS are that of ECOWAS.
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He stated that while President Bola Tinubu has assumed the ECOWAS chairmanship, the position of ECOWAS conveys the consensus position of member heads of state. And a coup will not occur in one’s backyard without one being particularly aware of it.
“The President, in recent days, particularly following the expiration of the ultimatum given by ECOWAS, has widened consultations internationally but most especially domestically, including interfaces with state governors in Nigeria, who govern states bordering Niger Republic on the various fallouts and outcomes of the unfortunate situation that has unfolded in Niger Republic.
He noted that the response of ECOWAS to the military coup in Niger has been and will remain devoid of ethnic and religious sentiments and considerations.
“The regional bloc comprises all sub-regional ethnic groups, religious groups, and all other forms of human diversity. And the response of ECOWAS, therefore, represents all of these groups, not any of these groups individually.
“While no options have been taken off the table, we draw this audience’s attention to the upcoming ECOWAS extraordinary Summit, which will be held in Abuja on Thursday, August 10. It is therefore expected that far-reaching decisions will be taken concerning the next steps of the regional bloc.”
“Mr President has directed the acting CBN governor to levy another slew of sanctions against entities and individuals associated with the military junta in Niger public.
“This is an action taken by the ECOWAS chairman, who is the President of Nigeria, but standing on the authority provided by the consensus resolution of all ECOWAS members and heads of state about financial sanctions being levied by the ECOWAS Member States against the military junta in Niger Republic.
“There is an authority that we are standing on. It is not Nigerian government authority; it is the authority of the resolution passed in public before now.”
