Former Nigerian Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has expressed a series of thought-provoking questions to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) concerning the ongoing situation in Niger Republic.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

As a recap, the defense chiefs of ECOWAS reached a tentative agreement on a potential date for a military intervention in Niger, should diplomatic efforts not yield positive results….CONTINUE READING

Following a two-day summit held in Ghana, Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, deliberated on the prospective “D-Day.”

Through a sequence of posts shared on his Twitter account on Monday morning, Femi Fani-Kayode pondered over several aspects of the situation.

He queried the rationale behind launching an attack on a country where some civilians seem to support those in power. Additionally, he raised concerns about the financial responsibilities associated with a regional intervention, particularly considering Nigeria’s current financial constraints.

Fani-Kayode’s inquiries encompassed a wide array of issues, including the feasibility of attacking a nation amidst civilian solidarity with their perceived oppressors.

He also inquired whether the ECOWAS force for the intervention had been formed already or if it would be divided among member countries.

He further questioned the location of the Command Headquarters, the fate of Niger’s sector within the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) around Lake Chad, and the potential for insurgent movement across borders if Burkina Faso and Mali aligned with Niger forces.

Fani-Kayode also touched on the presence of the Russian Wagner force in the region and the challenge of handling cross-border crimes and trafficking.

Highlighting financial limitations, he pondered whether the logistics for the intervention would fall under the responsibility of the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), or Western nations.

He stressed Nigeria’s inability to bear the financial burden of such an operation, referencing past efforts like ECOMOG.

In his viewpoint, he suggested a robust pursuit of conflict resolution mechanisms to buy time for addressing these pressing questions. Fani-Kayode also emphasized the potential security risks for Nigeria’s western borders if extremist elements were to penetrate through Niger Republic into countries like Benin and Togo.

Notably, he pointed out instances of extremist infiltration into Niger State, particularly close to Benin Republic and some southwestern Nigerian states, underscoring the urgency of addressing these concerns.