President Bola Tinubu has directed the reopening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger, as well as the lifting of all economic and financial sanctions against the country with immediate effect.
This move comes just days after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) lifted economic and travel sanctions on Niger, Mali, and Guinea at an extraordinary summit in Abuja on February 24, 2024.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the Nigerian President also approved the lifting of sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.
The statement, titled “Nigeria opens land and air borders with the Republic of Niger, lifts other sanctions,” outlined the specific measures being lifted concerning Niger:
closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and the Niger Republic, as well as the ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger.
Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as a freeze on all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to Niger.
Freeze on assets of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks and freeze on assets of Niger state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks.
suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with financial institutions, particularly the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and the West African Development Bank (BOAD).
travel bans on government officials and their family members.
The lifting of sanctions follows the ECOWAS decision to end economic and travel restrictions on Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea during last month’s summit of regional leaders in Abuja.
