Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria has cut the electricity supply to the Niger Republic as part of sanctions after military men took over the government in a coup which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which is responsible for supplying power to the neighbouring country, severed the connection that supplies electricity to Niger.
The country provides around 70 per cent of power to its neighbours, which comes directly from the national grid.
The action of the TCN is coming as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed severe economic sanctions on Niger and threatened to use force if Mr Bazoum’s presidency is not restored by August 6.
It has also dispatched a delegation to Niger, headed by former Nigerian leader, Mr Abdulsalami Abubakar, to negotiate with the soldiers who seized power.
On his part, the Niger coup leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, has declared that he will not bow down to pressure to reinstate the deposed president.
He also criticised the sanctions imposed by West African leaders as “illegal” and “inhumane” and urged his countrymen to get ready to defend their nation.
The junta leader said he “rejects these sanctions altogether and refuses to give in to any threats, wherever they come from. We refuse any interference in the internal affairs of Niger.”
“We, therefore, call on the people of Niger as a whole and their unity to defeat all those who want to inflict unspeakable suffering on our hard-working populations and destabilise our country,” he added.
On Wednesday, defence chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met in Abuja to discuss the crisis in Niger.
Speaking after the meeting, Nigeria’s chief of defence and chairman of the ECOWAS defence chiefs, General Christopher Musa, said, “The task of restoring democratic governance in Niger is fraught with potential hurdles and complications.
“Our decisions will send a strong message about our commitment to democracy, our intolerance for unconstitutional changes of government, and our dedication to regional stability.”
In a further sign of the mounting pressure on the Nigerien military, the World Bank also announced that it was suspending disbursements to Niger until further notice.
As tensions swell, the United States and some European countries, including France, Italy and Germany, have also been evacuating their citizens.
The US, which has a drone base and troops in Niger, announced it would evacuate some staff and families from its embassy in the country. The mission, however, will remain open, and the senior leadership will continue working there.
