According to Punch, senator Ali Ndume has called on Nigeria’s former military leaders of northern origin to step in and mediate the ongoing crisis in Niger Republic, warning that Nigeria’s leadership role in West Africa is at stake. He stressed that urgent intervention is necessary to prevent further suffering among the people of Niger and to preserve Nigeria’s influence as the “giant of Africa.”
Speaking during a media briefing in Maiduguri, Ndume strongly criticized the economic and diplomatic sanctions imposed on Niger by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), describing them as miscalculated and ineffective. According to him, the sanctions have failed to pressure the military junta while inflicting severe hardship on ordinary citizens.
“These restrictions do nothing to weaken the junta, but they have left the poorest and most vulnerable—children, women, small business owners, and low-income earners—struggling to survive,” Ndume stated. He added that the ECOWAS decision violates its own protocols and international laws, which prohibit sanctions that worsen humanitarian conditions.
The lawmaker called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as ECOWAS Chairman, to push for an immediate reversal of the sanctions and explore alternative diplomatic solutions. “Nigeria and ECOWAS are deeply intertwined, with Nigeria funding 70% of ECOWAS operations. It is our responsibility to lead the region toward a peaceful resolution,” he emphasized.
Ndume expressed his disappointment with ECOWAS’ approach, arguing that “the decision to impose sanctions was rushed, not properly analyzed, and ultimately, the wrong course of action. I do not support it because it directly affects my home state and the entire northern region.”
He highlighted Niger’s historical support for Nigerians during the Boko Haram insurgency, recalling, “For over a decade, Niger, despite its economic struggles, has opened its doors to more than 100,000 displaced Nigerians from Borno State. Instead of placing them in refugee camps, they took them into their own homes, sharing what little they had.”
Ndume also expressed concerns that ECOWAS’ actions could push Niger further into the influence of non-regional powers, such as Russia. “We must be cautious. If we isolate Niger, we may be driving them towards alternative alliances that could destabilize the region even further,” he warned.
The senator urged regional leaders to adopt a more strategic and diplomatic approach rather than using economic restrictions that disproportionately harm civilians. “The solution lies in dialogue and engagement, not in punishing the people of Niger for a coup they did not orchestrate,” he concluded.
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