There has been trending news about Nigeria embarking on a war to fight her neighboring country Niger Republic. Recently, rumored proves on Twitter have emerged, where documents are shown issued by the present president of Nigeria ordering his armed forces to invade Niger and ground all flights in and out of the country. There hasn’t been any investigation to these rumors but so far what is know is that the ECOWAS community and President Tinubu is against the Coup d’état going on Niger Republic and has ordered the Military general in charge to detest and step down from power and he, the military general has refused. While media and other social apps are trending on the imminent threat of a war breakout between Nigeria and the Republic of Niger, here are 5 Reasons Nigeria isn’t going to war with Niger Republic.
5 Reasons Nigeria Won’t Go to War with Niger
1. Finance
The Nigerian State has no funds to prosecute a direct war at the moment as wars are very expensive to embark upon. At present, the Nigerian State finds itself in a financial predicament that hampers its ability to launch a direct military campaign due to the exorbitant costs associated with warfare. The sheer expense involved in waging a war encompasses various aspects, including troop mobilization, procurement of advanced weaponry, logistical support, and other operational expenditures. These resource-intensive demands have strained the available funds, making it challenging for the government to allocate sufficient financial resources for such endeavors.
Given these fiscal constraints, the Nigerian government is compelled to adopt a strategic and cautious approach to national security and defense. Instead of resorting to immediate military actions, alternative avenues such as diplomatic negotiations, international collaborations, and peacekeeping efforts are being explored to address conflicts and security challenges. As the nation grapples with these financial limitations, striking a delicate balance between security concerns and meeting essential socioeconomic needs becomes imperative. Allocating resources thoughtfully to areas like healthcare, education, infrastructure, and poverty alleviation remains crucial to ensuring long-term stability and progress for the country. Hence, the Nigerian President can’t afford a war at this early stage of his administration even as he is the president of the body of ECOWAS.
2. Foreign Elements
While Nigeria and other ECOWAS member nations are been urged on by the West, the likes of Russia and other African Nations where Russian military governments hold sway would back them. Nigeria and other member nations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are currently facing a delicate situation, as they have received counsel from Western nations to intervene in a Coup d’état scenario. The West is urging these countries to take action and restore stability in Niger Republic.
However, the execution of such intervention will be met with resistance from certain quarters. Already countries like Russia, along with some other African nations where foreign military governments are in power, have long been opposing the idea of ECOWAS member nations getting involved. Their stance is a deterrent to the implementation of the proposed intervention. The complexity of the situation lies in the differing geopolitical interests and strategic alliances of these involved nations. The West, driven by concerns over regional stability, human rights, and democratic principles, encourages ECOWAS countries to act swiftly and decisively. On the other hand, nations with military governments may perceive such interventions as interference in their internal affairs and seek to maintain the status quo.
As a result, the decision-making process for Nigeria and other ECOWAS member nations is fraught with careful considerations. They must balance their responsibilities to regional stability and democratic values while navigating potential diplomatic implications and responses from nations with contrasting interests. In the face of these challenges, diplomatic negotiations and multilateral dialogues become paramount to find common ground and explore peaceful solutions to the coup situation. Collaboration and engagement with regional and international partners will be essential in finding a way forward that respects the sovereignty of nations while addressing the pressing need for stability and democratic governance in the affected region.
3. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) Personality
President BAT has never been a fan of meddling in international affairs when we have much to do on the home front economically. Those of us who have followed his argument know that as long as something is not directly inimical to the Nigerian State’s growth, he would find a way to dance round it. If you have followed the Nigerian Network news lately when he visited France on a climate change discussions, those facilities rendered by the Bretton woods houses were dodged as what Nigeria needs at present is Infrastructural loans and not things of such.
4. Military
Just as it is said a hungry man cannot fight so also one cannot fight on multiple fronts. Nigeria has so much security issues at present she is battling with. And any attempt to go the war route would give the enemies lurking around avenues to go full throttle. At this present time, Nigeria’s security challenges demands urgent attention and effective solutions. Engaging in war could potentially exacerbate these issues. Already, the prevailing security concerns are already posing significant threats to the nation’s stability.
Nigeria choosing to go to war with Nigeria Republic could lead to further serious instability, casualties, and destruction, negatively impacting the lives of citizens and exacerbating existing humanitarian crises.
5. Economic Toll, Long-term Trauma and Instability
Wars can cripple a country’s economy by draining resources, disrupting trade, and hindering investment. The diversion of funds towards military expenses often comes at the expense of crucial sectors like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, exacerbating poverty and inequality. Even after the conflict ends, the effects of war can linger for generations. Societies may struggle with deep-seated trauma, intergenerational conflicts, and ongoing political instability. The psychological scars of war can hinder social cohesion and economic recovery, prolonging the path to peace and stability.
Conclusion
The aforementioned are reasons a direct war between Nigeria and the Niger Republic would not take place. “There are many ways to kill a rat”, is the saying. And so what would happen, is to impose economic sanctions to strangulate the local Niger economy which would force them to throw in the towel or force the locals to come at the military government itself. Let us know what you think about this in the comment section.
