Tinubu
Nigeria reopens borders with Niger Republic, lifts sanctions
Nigeria is opening its borders with the Niger Republic, which were shut in line with the directives of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, following the coup in that country.
Consequently, President Bola Tinubu directed the opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger and the lifting of other sanctions against the country with immediate effect.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the opening of the borders is compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.
ECOWAS leaders had lifted economic sanctions against the republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
The border closure had affected land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger Republic, as well as ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger Republic.
Also, it included suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as freeze of all service transactions, including utility services and electricity to Niger republic.
Freeze of assets of the republic of Niger in ECOWAS central banks and freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger, state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks were affected.
It included suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD, and travel bans on government officials and their family members.
With the lifting of sanctions and border reopening also included lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.
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