President Bola Tinubu has demanded that the economic sanctions placed by ECOWAS on Guinea, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso be lifted.

At the ECOWAS extraordinary session on Saturday in Abuja, Tinubu, the organization’s Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, made this statement.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Advisor on Media and Publicity, made this announcement on Saturday in Abuja.

He said, “Everything we did was in hopes of persuading our brothers that there existed a better path, a path that would lead to genuine improvement of their people’s welfare through democratic good governance.

”And this was a path each of our nations had solemnly agreed with one another pursuant to formal regional treaty and protocol.

“However, the sanctions that we contemplated might help lead our brothers to the negotiating table have become a harsh stumbling block.

“In my mind and heart, that which is hurtful yet ineffective serves no good purpose and should be abandoned.

“ECOWAS was established for the unassailable objective of improving the lives of the people of this region through fraternal cooperation among all member states.

”This edifice was cemented on the strong foundation and apt conviction that, united as one, we can be the true masters of our destiny.”

According to the president, which he mentioned, ECOWAS adopted the actions it did in order to promote regional goals of social stability, political freedom, democratic governance, security, and sustained economic growth.

He said that no ulterior motives or hatred drove the actions and that no member state’s rightful political ambitions were ever intended to be subdued or undermined in favor of the interests of any third party.

“We must take note of the approaching holy months of Ramadan and ongoing Lent,” Tinubu stated in his demand for the suspension of sanctions. This is a moment for compassion, optimism, and unity whether you pray in a church or a mosque.

“However, the sanctions that we contemplated might help lead our brothers to the negotiating table have become a harsh stumbling block. In my mind and heart, that which is hurtful yet ineffective serves no good purpose and should be

”It is a time that we must not only seek God but also a closer relationship with brother and neighbour.

“In the Spirit of the holy month and of the Lenten period, and with hearts bestirred by goodwill towards all our people, let us extend a hand as brothers and friends to those in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.

“What I suggest in real and practical terms is that we, my colleagues and fellow heads of state in ECOWAS, indefinitely suspend economic sanctions against Niger, Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso and against the leadership of the military authorities in those nations.”

In particular, the most vulnerable citizens of these countries should have unhindered access to food, medication, and other humanitarian supplies. The president requested that ECOWAS enable this.

He continued by saying that this would additionally entail a speedy restart of Nigeria’s export of electricity to Niger.

According to Tinubu, lifting the sanctions was just the first step in resolving the diplomatic gridlock.

”We must use this very moment when things seem tense and progress is unavailing, to forge greater cooperation within our community.

“We not only reach out to our brothers. Today, we say unto them — let us begin to work more earnestly together for the economic development of our people and towards confronting those modern challenges that respect no borders or boundaries.

”Challenges ranging from climate change to violent extremism to illegal pilfering of our precious natural resources require that we join together in progress or we fail separately.

“As leaders of ECOWAS, we have accepted the honour and duty to draft the history of the region and its people during our tenure in office.

”We have also accepted the honour and duty to reach out to our brothers, letting them know this regional home belongs to us all. I shall do my utmost in this regard. I humbly beseech that you do the same.

“For these reasons, we must suspend sanctions and return to brotherly dialogue. I call on the leadership in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger to embrace the hand extended,” the president said.