Beyond ECOWAS Sanction: Will Disconnection Of Electricity Supply To Niger Republic Reduce Her Dependency On Nigeria? -By Isaac Asabor

It is not an exaggeration to say that the boundary between Nigeria and the Republic of Niger is the longest among Nigeria’s neighboring countries; even as both countries have a strong historical background, share a common language and religion across neighboring towns, and have been trading partners for years. The Republic of Niger and Nigeria have always had strong historical and social ties as they share a border of about 1500km, which is Nigeria’s longest border with any neighboring country.

The towns and cities between Southern Niger and Northern Nigeria have shared customs and languages, Hausa being the prevalent language spoken in both areas.  In fact, one of the commonalities between both countries finds expression in the Emir of Maradi in the Niger Republic been addressed as ‘Sarkin Katsina’ due to the historical links between Maradi and Katsina in Nigeria

Observably put, despite the vast border, there are no natural barriers like mountain ranges, rivers, or hills separating the two countries, and the foregoing to some extent may have been responsible for the reason why Nigeria has been benefitting from the trade of agricultural products, particularly livestock and cattle from Niger. For ages, Nigeriens bring their agro products into the Nigerian market, because they have large landmass and weather conditions that enable nomadic grazing. Aside from agricultural produce, trade from the Republic of Niger into Nigeria consists of consumer goods, manufactured food products, textiles, footwear, Mechanical, and electrical appliances, while Niger’s most direct routes to overseas trade are through Nigeria’s land transport systems and Nigeria’s southern Sea Ports.

The relationship between both countries have been very cordial to the extent that it is difficult for some Nigerians in the Southern parts of the country to precisely distinguish some Nigerians from the Northern part of the country from a Nigerien residing in Nigeria. Thus, allegations abound on how some Nigeriens have infiltrated the rank and file of Nigeria civil service, politics and even to the extent of assuming high leadership positions on Nigeria’s political landscape.

Just as it is difficult to precisely identify a Nigerien in the midst of Nigerians in the Northern part of the country in most cases, or elsewhere in the country,  so also it has been difficult for many Nigerians to understand the immediate past president Muhammadu Buhari’s love for Niger and Nigeriens.

Given the foregoing, it will not be a misnomer to recall that in 2018 that the then Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, described former President Muhammadu Buhari as a true and dedicated nationalist, whom he said loves Nigeria more than himself, stressing that Buhari is an embodiment of honesty and integrity.  He said, “We have in him a true and committed leader.” It will also be recalled that he made the assertion at the South-east APC dinner for Buhari which took place in Owerri, the Imo State capital, in the presence of the then newly emerged leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from the region.

Ostensibly buttressing the fact that he loves Niger Republic, Buhari in May this year threw a banter at his audience as he said that Niger Republic is a safe haven for him if Nigerians give him problems after he leaves office. Expectedly, his banter drew widespread criticism from Nigerians who questioned his loyalty to the country.

The criticism aimed at him as a result of his love for Niger cannot be said to be sneering and misdirected in this context as it is obvious that under his administration that Niger Republic and Nigeriens were supposedly pampered so much that not a few infrastructural developmental efforts were extended to the country.  For instance, according to results obtained from 2016/2017 manual classified traffic census at Daura/Kazaure to kongolam in Niger Republic, the traffic levels between Nigeria and Niger Border in the between 2016 and 2017 shows that there is an increase in traffic level by 52.5%.

Again, in 2020, the Nigeria government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Niger Republic on the transportation and storage of petroleum products. Some critics at the time alleged that the deal was as an avenue for Nigeria’s government to abandon its refineries and look for alternative ways to source petrol even as capacity utilization in three of Nigeria’s refineries has been below par, as they were utilizing relatively less than 5 percent of their respective capacity.

Still in the same nexus, the Federal Government exactly a year today confirmed the purchase of N1.4 billion worth of vehicles for Niger Republic. As gathered, the approval for the purchase of the vehicles worth N1.4 billion for Niger Republic was to tackle insecurity.

The then minister of finance, budget, and national Planning, Zainab Ahmed who gave the confirmation, explained that providing intervention to the neighboring Niger Republic was not new and that it was the prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari who approved the purchase. The foregoing are literarily “Spittle in the Ocean” given what Nigeria has been doing for Niger.

However, with the biblical Pharaoh not knowing Joseph, it appears Niger has fallen out of favour from Nigeria as its electricity supply from Nigeria has been disconnected on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, yesterday, after the military coup in the country.  The move was in line with sanctions decided by the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). As gathered, Niger used to get 70% of its electricity from Nigeria. ECOWAS, of which Nigeria is a member, decided to impose sanctions on Niger following the coup.

In fact, the question, “Will Disconnection Of Electricity Supply To Niger Republic Reduce Her Dependency On Nigeria?”, which is invariably the headline of this piece becomes salient when answered from the perspective of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s insight into a likely makeup of his foreign policy towards neighboring country when he, in June, questioned the brotherly role Nigeria has adopted since independence in Africa as centerpiece of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

The president’s approach, which foreign policy experts have called realism in the face of numerous challenges confronting the country, most of which are from Africa, is putting Nigeria first.

The president spoke at a meeting with the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) at Aso Rock, Tinubu where he unarguably frowned at pacifying other African countries, especially the contiguous states which he referred to as “Neighbours” against Nigeria’s national interest.

At this juncture, it is germane to opine that beyond ECOWAS sanction that it will be convenient for Nigeria to leave the disconnection of electricity to Niger as it is since Nigerians have over the years been groaning under the weight of inadequate distribution of electricity across the country. After all, an African proverbs says, “One cannot be by the riverside, and be searching for water to wash his or her soapy face”. Again, it will go a long way in reducing Niger Republic’s overbearing dependency on Nigeria.