President Bola Tinubu has directed the opening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger.
The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, also directed the sanctions against the country be lifted with immediate effect.
Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries had pronounced sanctions on Niger Republic in the wake of military Coup that unseat a democratically elected President in the year 2023.
The new directive by President Tinubu is in compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government at its extraordinary summit on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.
There, the ECOWAS leaders had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
“Closure of 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.
“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.
“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.”
President Tinubu also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.
