The mouthpiece of northern Nigeria, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for reopening the Nigerian-Niger Republic air and land borders and restoring power supply to the neighbouring country.

A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, reads: “The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) warmly welcomes news of order from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) for the reopening of the Nigeria – Niger air and land borders, lifting of economic sanctions, restoration of power supply (to Niger Republic) and other restrictions.

“ACF had maintained opposition to the sanctions and the threat of a Nigeria-led ECOWAS military invasion in the wake of a military coup in Niger, which were seen to only serve imperialist and neo-colonial interests, against the complex historical socio-cultural, economic and political ties which pre-dated European colonialism and its imposition of highly arbitrary boundaries.

“The directive from PBAT is a welcome development for Nigeria and Niger, whose border communities had groaned under the sanctions with local economic activities asphyxiated.

“The (border) communities can now look forward to a change in their challenging life conditions consequential to the sanctions. Critical supplies of food, medicines, and electricity will now resume as will air travel operators and passengers see an end to the ordeals while the sanctions lasted.”