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By Merit Ibe
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI ) has said President Bola Tinubu’s plan to deploy Nigerian troops in Niger to force out the coupists in the country, was hasty, ill-advised and detrimental to the economy.
The Governments and Heads of States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on June 30, issued an ultimatum to the military junta in Niger on the restoration of democratic order or be faced with the use of military force.
Reacting to the president’s move requesting the Nigerian Senate’s approval to enforce the plan, however, President of the chamber, Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, noted that in as much as it aligns with the regional body’s decision to restore democratic order in Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, it opined that dialogue would be a better tool to achieve the objectives.
Olawale-Cole viewed that currently, Nigeria has its political and economic challenges caused by insurgency by Boko Haram and weak security infrastructure.
He said if we do not have the security paraphernalia to deal with Nigeria’s insecurity challenges, it would be detrimental to Nigerian society and economy to deploy troops to Niger.
“We understand the need of the Nigerian president, President Bola Tinubu as the Chairman of ECOWAS to make an impact.
“However, strategic dialogue would serve the purpose better. Nigerian troops should focus on solving our security problems, as this would promote trade, attract investment and enhance economic development.
“Besides, the consequences of war, if allowed to start, are quite likely to be too expensive for the weak economies of the member-states of the ECOWAS, especially at this time. In our opinion, top-level political, consultative and diplomatic engagements with the putschists are likely to be more effective for the needed peace in the sub-region. We, therefore, urge the ECOWAS leaders to explore these routes to resolve the Nigerien impasse.”
Olawale-Cole, recalled the game-changing role ECOWAS through ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), led by gallant Nigerian soldiers, played decades ago.
“Copied and praised by the United Nations (UN), ECOMOG was to become a model of peace enforcement for the rest of the world.
“The challenges in many spheres that the ECOWAS region face today are succinctly quite different. Like seasons, the time has changed.”
Olawale-Cole cautioned that there may be certain undercurrents the ECOWAS leadership may not be aware of between the leaders and the populace in Niger.
