In compliance with decisions made at the extraordinary summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on February 24, 2024, President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate reopening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger. Additionally, other sanctions against Niger have been lifted with immediate effect.
Quicktell News reports that this was made known on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The ECOWAS leaders had collectively agreed to lift economic sanctions imposed on several countries, including the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
President Tinubu’s directive includes the lifting of various sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger, which are as follows:
- Closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger Republic, as well as the ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger Republic.
- Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, including the freeze of all service transactions, such as utility services and electricity to Niger Republic.
- Freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks, as well as the freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger, state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks.
- Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD.
- Travel bans on government officials and their family members.
Furthermore, President Tinubu has approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.
These decisions mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s diplomatic relations with its neighboring countries and are expected to facilitate improved trade and cooperation within the ECOWAS region.
