Bola Tinubu's U-turn on Niger sanctions received with relief in northern Nigeria.

After the army seized power in Niger last year, the president of its giant neighbour Nigeria was at the forefront of demands that the junta step down, even warning that the West African bloc could use military force to oust the generals, while imposing tough sanctions and closing the border.

However just eight months later, Bola Tinubu has lifted all those restrictions.

In many ways, it is a huge climbdown for the regional bloc, Ecowas, but it is also personally embarrassing for Mr Tinubu, analysts say.

The warm welcome for the lifting of sanctions in both Niger and across the border in northern Nigeria also shows the unpopularity of his original, hard-line position.

The about-turn was partly because Niger, along with its fellow juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali, hugely increased the stakes by saying they would pull out of Ecowas altogether, raising serious questions about the bloc's future.

The three countries had been suspended from Ecowas, which has been urging them to return to democratic rule.

It seems Ecowas realised its waning influence after the trio went ahead to form an alliance, sever ties with France and forge closer relations with Russia.

Nigerian political commentator Sani Bala thinks Mr Tinubu was too hasty eight months ago in trying to prove himself, and act like the "strong man".

He had only been in office two months when Niger's coup took place and had just taken over as chairman of Ecowas.

"It was a huge mistake from President Tinubu to impose those sanctions without fully appreciating the special relationship we have with Niger," the Kano-based analyst told the BBC.

Mr Tinubu's own background - being forced into exile by a military regime in the 1990s - may have influenced his tough stance.

Yet Mr Bala feels he should not have been so quick to act: "He should have consulted widely from the start."

Mahmud Bawa, a political analyst in the city of Kaduna, agrees.

"Bola [Tinubu] is too impulsive. He will act and think later - just like in his inaugural speech," he told the BBC.

This is a reference to how the president announced that Nigeria's long-standing fuel subsidy would be ending - a seemingly off-hand remark during his inauguration ceremony at the end of May last year. It caused chaos at the time and the subsequent huge jump in the price of petrol has had huge knock-on costs for consumers.

"He is facing the consequences now," said Mr Bawa, adding that the president has just had to suspend his student loan scheme, due to start this month, as the legislation was put together too hastily. "So I think this is embarrassing."

The fact that the 71-year-old president had initially threatened military action against Niger was what really raised hackles.

Nigeria and Niger share strong ethnic, economic and cultural ties, with families living either side of the border.

Closing the border and cutting off the electricity, which caused blackouts in cities across Niger, also angered many.

Trade suffered - and essentials such as cement could no longer be imported. The landlocked country depends on imports brought in by road.

Hamidou Kalalabuwa, a small-time trader in Diffa, a city in south-eastern Niger on the border with Nigeria, said poor mainly Muslim communities on both sides had suffered most.

"This is amazing news and even more special coming in the Ramadan month of fasting," he told the BBC.

"In Hausa we have a saying 'bayan wuya sai dadi', which translates as 'after suffering comes relief'. This is a relief," he said.

In Nigeria, business in the northern city of Kano - an economic hub for the region - was greatly affected because of the sanctions.

The absence of businessmen from Niger, often in town to buy products to export, was keenly felt.

Kano property developer Auwalu Yakasai is over the moon about Mr Tinubu's U-turn - given that the economy is suffering on multiple fronts.

"It is good news and my hope is that the economy benefits and gets better," he told the BBC.

This joyous response from both sides may give Nigeria's president some reprieve, Mr Bala says.

"Niger has always been Nigeria's friend and this move will go a long way to repair the damaged relationship."

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68563579

Not a bad decision at all. We all have a change of mind.

Which propaganda relief is this.

It is over 72 hrs since tinubu talk, Nigerien authorities have maintained their entry points closed.
Which useless relief are you propaganding about?
This is the same relief Nigerians were said to have as the price of indonmie and sugar fell only Newspaper on a promoted propaganda of tinubu and hid people.

Tinubu and his team should quit all these useless propagandas in foreign and local media. Use those funds to better the country.
People are seriously hungry.

Naija

COMRADES, the slave can never subdue his masters, the fear of 2027 is the beginning of wisdom

Lol.. you beg for unity not demand it..

Confused presidency

Hope it's not just in the media and verbal alone,action is very important

Another policy summersauled just like the 8bon his cap that keeps failing

Spineless government

Giant neighbor...lol

"Bola [Tinubu] is too impulsive. He will act and think later - just like in his inaugural speech,"

is it over confidence or sheer ignorance or both?

Melagros:
COMRADES, the slave can never subdue his masters, the fear of 2027 is the beginning of wisdom

There is nothing like fear comes 2027 Tinubu will still be your president and ruling you so rest

Tinubu is The Most Confused President of Nigeria in History.
A very Directionless Senseless and insensitive and irresponsible Man

Jivak:
Not a bad decision st all. We all have a change of mind.

Nairaland here I come

you just come , you dey collect FTC

Yet southern borders still closed 🙆

TULUMBU is in northern Bondage

Nothing to see here.

It was a thoughtless decision in the first place. He was drunken with power....Completely overated.

Mahmud Bawa, a political analyst in the city of Kaduna, agrees.

"Bola [Tinubu] is too impulsive. He will act and think later - just like in his inaugural speech," he told the BBC.

One of the problems we have as a people is ...we are low information people...and low IQ.

All I hear here is personal interests...personal interests.

Now, here is the Timeline..

- Two coups took place and a democratically elected leader was held hostage.

- ECOWAS had an emergency meeting and all countries decided to place sanctions not just Tinubu or Nigeria.

It was meant to stop coups or discourage it. since then we have not had additional coups.

The difference between our way of thinking and the West...if US citizens know that putting sanctions will cost them more...just like support for Ukraine...they support the Govt because some decisions won't be positive but collectively makes sense. We had no money to continue paying subsidy. What is wrong with us.

Great100000:
[b]Bola Tinubu's U-turn on Niger sanctions received with relief in northern Nigeria.


Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68563579

If tinubu had invaded Niger like his online goons made us believe, the northerners would have ensure he was impeached

The fear of the north made him rescind on those planned invasions, if not why would he open all orders and even secured more loans to complete the sokoto-maradi rail track when Niger still maintained their no fly zone for non commercial flights in and out of Niger

Any agbado to explain that to me?

Most of them are from niger republic

Buhari and co

ArewaNightmare:
Yet southern borders still closed 🙆

TULUMBU is in northern Bondage

Let him dare open any southern border

Northerners will castrate him immediately

Gadafii:
If tinubu had invaded Niger like his online goons made us believe, the northerners would have endure he was impeached

The fear of the north made him rescind on those planned invasions, if not why would he open all orders and even secured more loans to complete the solo-maradi rail track when Niger still maintained their no fly zone for non commercial flights in and out of Niger

Any agbado to explain that to me?

You dey expect the same people who were cheering his badly thought-out actions to explain his U-turn?

You go wait tire. A slave can not outrun his master

So do they expect Tinubu as head of Ecowas to welcome Niger coup with open alms? The bittered people painted the scenario as if it was Tinubu that singlehandedly sanction Niger and not the entire Ecowas. Whatever way you want to look at it, the sanction is necessary so as not to encourage coup plotters across other West African countries.

MasterTeeUSA:
One of the problems we have as a people is ...we are low information people...and low IQ.

All I hear here is personal interests...personal interests.

Now, here is the Timeline..

- Two coups took place and a democratically elected leader was held hostage.

- ECOWAS had an emergency meeting and all countries decided to place sanctions not just Tinubu or Nigeria.

It was meant to stop coups or discourage it. since then we have not had additional coups.

The difference between our way of thinking and the West...if US citizens know that putting sanctions will cost them more...just like support for Ukraine...they support the Govt because some decisions won't be positive but collectively makes sense. We had no money to continue paying subsidy. What is wrong with us.

Stop giving excuses for ineptitude, you're not talking to kids here. When northern elders kicked against the sanctions, didn't tinubu try to prove stubborn and went ahead with it?

Isn't tinubu the current ECOWAS president?

Now the useless sanctions has come to bite him in the ass, you're trying to give excuses for him and trying to use Ukraine to justify this bullshit. Would you have given this silly rebuttal if tinubu or obi was your president?

Sit down, my friend

MasterTeeUSA:
One of the problems we have as a people is ...we are low information people...and low IQ.

All I hear here is personal interests...personal interests.

Now, here is the Timeline..

- Two coups took place and a democratically elected leader was held hostage.

- ECOWAS had an emergency meeting and all countries decided to place sanctions not just Tinubu or Nigeria.

It was meant to stop coups or discourage it. since then we have not had additional coups.

The difference between our way of thinking and the West...if US citizens know that putting sanctions will cost them more...just like support for Ukraine...they support the Govt because some decisions won't be positive but collectively makes sense. We had no money to continue paying subsidy. What is wrong with us.

See explanation
If it had worked out, your kind will be telling us how Tinubu is a master strategist and the best President ever.
Now you're hiding under Ecowas
It is typical of Tinubu bots anyway. Claim successes of others for him and find a convenient place to hide his failures or misdeeds

Massiveglory:
Which propaganda relief is this.

It is over 72 hrs since tinubu talk, Nigerien authorities have maintained their entry points closed.
Which useless relief are you propaganding about?
This is the same relief Nigerians were said to have as the price of indonmie and sugar fell only Newspaper on a promoted propaganda of tinubu and hid people.

Tinubu and his team should quit all these useless propagandas in foreign and local media. Use those funds to better the country.
People are seriously hungry.

What exactly are you saying? He should close back the borders? I don't understand you people sometimes

Moyinoluwa35:
Please nairalander, I have a secondary school class mate , we where very close then but after school we part way, alone the line, last week I met him at a park, we exchange number, only for the guy to tell me how life have messed him up and he is married with a child, I wish it was before this airforce short service form is online, but it's close and I can't help Cos most of my life and time I spend in the military, please if you have any link to any state government work in the west state, please I need any link I will pay pls

Is he your husband or brother that you're ready to pay to get him a job