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WACSOF Says No to Military Intervention In Niger, Calls On ECOWAS For A Peaceful Resolution, Better Governance
Joel Ajayi
The West African Civil Society Forum (FOSCAO) is closely following the political crisis in NIGER, following the military coup on July 26, 2023, which led to the overthrow of the elected President Mohammed Bazoum. During the extraordinary meeting of heads of state on July 29, 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria, ECOWAS, without prior dialogue known by the public, immediately issued a series of sanctions against NIGER, including the threat of military intervention.
In a statement issued on Monday by WACSOF Secretary General Komlan Messie called for Peaceful Resolution, Better Governance for the citizenry.
According to the statement, WACSOF condemns any military, constitutional, or electoral coup d’Etat.
Article 58 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty has provisions for regional security and that ECOWAS has had a conflict prevention framework (CPCC, ECPF) since 2008 and Article 13 of the revised ECOWAS Treaty created the ECOWAS parliament composed of deputies from all ECOWAS countries
ECOWAS Member States are required to comply with international and regional legal instruments, including the “ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance” and the “African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Good Governance (ACDEG)”.
“The Chairperson of the African Union Commission appointed, on January 21, 2023, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas as High Representative for Silencing the Guns.
“The United Nations (UN), of which all ECOWAS states are members, provides tools and mechanisms for conflict resolution. Chapters 6, 7, and 8 of the Charter of the United Nations have provisions respectively on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes; action in the event of threat to the peace, breach of the peace, and acts of aggression; and Regional Agreements. Reaffirming its deepest concerns at the too many unresolved problems plaguing the region and negatively affecting the lives of citizens:
Inequitable exploitation of natural resources that are not locally processed and that do not benefit citizens, as well as terrorist extremism and the consequences of climate change without forgetting the questionable conditions of children and women. Inhuman and racist treatment of citizens, women and children, so-called migrants, in several Mediterranean countries.
“Generalized Corruption issues including those at land borders, preventing the free movement of people and goods and services and regional integration.
“The repetition of military, constitutional and electoral coups, a situation symptomatic of a deep malaise, resulting from a crisis of governance, endemic corruption, restriction of civic and political space, an instrumentalization of justice in the States to block political adversaries, or to imprison journalists and citizens with different opinions from the powers, with political prisoners and political exiles and extreme politicization of the national armies, as well as public administrations which should remain neutral and republican.”
The statement added that: WACSOF Calls upon ECOWAS and all stakeholders to respect the existing legal instruments and conflicts prevention frameworks and to favor peaceful resolution methods such as good offices, mediation, conciliation, and facilitation based on dialogue, negotiation, and arbitration;
“Says NO to any military intervention in NIGER and calls on ECOWAS to favor a peaceful solution between the citizens of NIGER. In this country already faced with terrorist insecurity, any military intervention would precipitate it into indescribable chaos, with the risk of the proliferation of weapons and the risk of collapse of coastal countries, not to mention the risk of creating a ‘’second LYBIA’’ and exposing the entire region to another form of colonization by external forces which are just waiting for this opportunity. WACSOF recalls the wisdom that says: “We know when a war begins and we don’t know when it ends”.
“Calls on ECOWAS to concentrate its military resources on the fight against terrorists throughout the community space
“Calls for targeted sanctions that do not aggravate the already precarious situation of citizens
“Launches a strong appeal to ECOWAS and Heads of State to work for an immediate, inclusive, and lasting improvement of democratic governance, the fight against corruption, the protection of human rights, better opening of civic and political space in member states, in order to contribute more effectively to the co-construction of a true ECOWAS of the Peoples, as expressed in its Vision 2050.
“Free, inclusive and transparent elections (consensual electoral laws and voter’s lists) with the independence of justice (without instrumentalization of justice in the service of powers and avoiding elections without opposition)
“Opening of civic space (freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of press and expression), and release of political prisoners and return of political exiles.
“Active inclusion of its Parliament, civil society, religious and traditional leaders in the construction and implementation of solutions
“Calls on ECOWAS to finalize the “review process of the 2001 additional protocol on democracy and good governance”, as decided by the extraordinary summit of heads of state, on September 16th, 2021 in Accra, Ghana.
“Calls on the African Union (AU) to really put into practice the ‘’theme of silencing the guns’’
“Calls on ECOWAS and AU and the heads of states, for the acceleration of inclusive and sustainable economic and social development, better control and local processing of raw materials and natural resources in the region for the benefit of citizens as well as the mobilization of ECOWAS with more dynamism, for the settlement of structural problems in the region that have a very negative impact on the lives of citizens
“Remains seized of the situation in NIGER and invites all civil society organizations to contribute actively to dialogue, peace, and social cohesion.
“Affirms its full readiness to contribute, alongside ECOWAS, the people of NIGER, and all stakeholders, to a return to constitutional order, peace, economic development, and social cohesion.”
Featured
NELFUND: The Renewed Hope Engine Propelling Nigeria’s Youth into Tomorrow
By Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader, APC
As the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, I have spent most of my tenure fighting for a Nigeria where every young person, regardless of their ward or local government, family income, or circumstance, can chase dreams without the chains of financial despair.
Today, that fight feels like victory, thanks to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Launched as a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, this initiative isn’t just a policy tweak; it’s a revolution. And under the steady, visionary hand of Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFUND has transformed from a bold promise into a roaring engine of opportunity, disbursing over ₦116 billion to more than 396,000 students and shattering barriers for over a million applicants.
Let’s be clear: NELFUND was always destined to be a game-changer. Signed into law by President Tinubu on April 3, 2024, it repealed the outdated 2023 Student Loan Act, replacing it with a modern, inclusive framework that covers tuition, upkeep allowances, and even vocational training—ensuring no Nigerian youth is left on the sidelines of progress.
But what elevates it from groundbreaking to generational? Leadership. Enter Akintunde Sawyerr, the diplomat-turned-executioner whose career reads like a blueprint for results-driven governance. From co-founding the Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria (AFGEAN) in 2012—backed by icons like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina—to steering global logistics at DHL across 21 countries, Sawyerr brings a rare alchemy: strategic foresight fused with unyielding accountability.
As NELFUND’s pioneer MD, he’s turned a fledgling fund into a finely tuned machine, processing over 1 million applications since May 2024 and disbursing ₦116 billion—₦61.33 billion in institutional fees and ₦46.35 billion in upkeep—to students in 231 tertiary institutions nationwide. That’s not bureaucracy; that’s brilliance.
Sawyerr’s touch is everywhere in NELFUND’s ascent. Since the portal’s launch, he’s overseen a digital ecosystem that’s as transparent as it is efficient—seamless verification, BVN-linked tracking, and real-time dashboards that have quashed misinformation and built trust. In just 18 months, the fund has empowered 396,252 students with interest-free loans, many first-generation learners who might otherwise have dropped out.
Sensitization drives in places like Ekiti and Ogun have spiked applications — 12,000 in a single day in one instance, while expansions to vocational centers in Enugu pilot the next wave of skills-based funding. And amid challenges like data mismatches and fee hikes, Sawyerr’s team has iterated relentlessly: aligning disbursements with academic calendars, resuming backlogged upkeep payments for over 3,600 students, and even probing institutional compliance to safeguard every kobo. This isn’t management; it’s mastery—a man who doesn’t just lead but launches futures.
Yet, none of this happens in a vacuum. President Tinubu’s alliance with trailblazers like Sawyerr is the secret sauce securing Nigeria’s tomorrow. The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda isn’t rhetoric; it’s resources—₦100 billion seed capital channeled into a system that prioritizes equity over elitism. Together, they’ve forged a partnership where vision meets velocity: Tinubu’s bold repeal of barriers meets Sawyerr’s boots-on-the-ground execution, turning abstract policy into tangible triumphs. It’s a synergy that’s non-discriminatory by design—Christians, Muslims, every tribe and tongue united in access—fostering national cohesion through classrooms, not courtrooms.
As Sawyerr himself notes, this is “visionary leadership” in action, where the President’s political will ignites reforms that ripple across generations.
Why does this matter to us, Nigeria’s youth? Because NELFUND isn’t handing out handouts—it’s handing out horizons. In a country where 53% of us grapple with unemployment, these loans aren’t just funds; they’re fuel for innovation, entrepreneurship, and endurance.
Picture it: A first-generation polytechnic student in Maiduguri, once sidelined by fees, now graduates debt-free (repayments start two years post-NYSC, employer-deducted for ease) and launches a tech startup. Or a vocational trainee in Enugu, equipped with skills funding, revolutionizing local agriculture. This is quality education that endures—not fleeting certificates, but lifelong launchpads. Sawyerr’s focus on human-centered design ensures loans cover not just books, but bread—upkeep stipends of ₦20,000 monthly keeping hunger at bay so minds can soar. Under his watch, NELFUND has debunked doubts, refuted fraud claims, and delivered results that scream sustainability: Over ₦99.5 billion to 510,000 students by September, with 228 institutions on board.
As youth leaders, we see NELFUND for what it is: A covenant with our future. President Tinubu and MD Sawyerr aren’t just allies; they’re architects of an educated, empowered Nigeria—one where poverty’s grip loosens with every approved application, and innovation blooms from every funded desk. This isn’t charity; it’s an investment in the 70 million of us who will lead tomorrow.
We’ve crossed one million applications not because of luck, but leadership—a duo that’s turning “access denied” into “future unlocked.”
To President Tinubu: Thank you for daring to dream big and backing it with action.
To Akintunde Sawyerr: You’re the executor we needed, proving that one steady hand can steady a nation.
And to every Nigerian youth: Apply. Graduate. Conquer.
Because with NELFUND, your generation isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving, enduring, and eternal.
The Renewed Hope isn’t a slogan; it’s our story, now written in scholarships and success. Let’s keep turning the page.
Dayo Israel is the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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