ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have agreed to take military and financial actions against the unconstitutional takeover of government in the Republic of Niger last week.

Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission, disclosed this at the end of the extraordinary meeting of the ECOWAS on the Niger on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the authority had agreed that military action would be taken against the military junta of the Niger Republic if they failed to restore President Bazoum within one week.

Mr Touray said the authority also agreed to close all land and air borders between 15-member ECOWAS nations and Niger.

He said the Niger military and anybody backing the coup would no longer enjoy any financial transaction within the region, either as government or individuals.

Similarly, a travel ban was placed on the junta, its officials and families until the restoration of democratic institutions.

Mr Touray said the heads of state and government applauded President Bola Tinubu for his steadfastness and robust handling of affairs since he assumed office as the ECOWAS Chair last month.

Early in his opening remark, Mr Tinubu tasked the members to stand firm on the tenet of democracy in Africa and to stand by all decisions reached at the meeting.

He said the situation in Niger was an affront to one of them and must be confronted with all necessary available options open to the community.

He also stressed the need to restore Mr Bazoum back to power as the democratically elected representative of the people of Niger.

(NAN)