General view of delegates interacting, during the extraordinary session of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria on February 24, 2024. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP)
THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has resolved to lift some sanctions on Niger Republic, Mali and Guinea, apparently due to pressures from high-heeled individuals and organisations in the continent including former military head of state of Nigeria, General Yakubu Gowon.
The resolution was taken at the extraordinary summit on the peace, political and security situation in the ECOWAS sub-region in Abuja on Saturday.
While the regional bloc said the political and targeted sanctions on Niger Republic remain, it lifted some financial and economic sanctions on Guinea and some targeted sanctions on Mali.
As then military head of state, Gen Gowon played a significant role in the formation of the regional body on May 28, 1975.
 Several hours before today’s meeting in Abuja, Gen Gowon visited President Bola Tinubu, at the Presidential visits, a visit which observers said was meant to dissuade President Tinubu, who is the current Chair of ECOWAS from continuing with some of the sanctions imposed on these countries for overthrowing constitutional governments in their respective countries.
 Details Later….
