After Intervention By Gowon, Nigeria’s Fmr Head Of State,  ECOWAS Relaxes Sanctions On Niger, Mali, Guinea

By Ayodele Oni

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has resolved to lift economic sanctions on Niger Republic, Mali and Guinea.

The resolution was taken at the extraordinary summit on the peace, political and security situation in the ECOWAS sub-region in Abuja on Saturday.

The regional bloc, however, said the political and targeted sanctions remain. The West African bloc had in a swift response to the military coup in Niger, enforced a no-flight zone over the country.

The Nigerian government also cut off power supply to the military-ruled country to persuade the juntas to restore democracy in the country.

Former Nigeria military Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon had in a letter early in the week appealed to feuding parties to sheath sword.

Gowon, one of the founding fathers of the regional body advised that all parties in the present logjam should be ready to shift position just as he urged  lifting of the sanctions imposed on Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic.

In an open letter to the Heads of State and the ECOWAS member states, Gowon stated that “I have noted with deep concern and sadness, the past and recent developments  unfolding in the West African sub-region, particularly the pronouncement by  Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger of their intention to exit from the Economic Community of West African States.

“As one of the founders of our regional economic community, it is incumbent upon  me to speak on behalf of the 14 Heads of State and Government who joined me in  Lagos, on 27th May 1975, to establish ECOWAS.”

One of the affected countries had also imposed flight ban on Nigeria in the wake of the crisis.