NIGERIANS WITH ECOWAS passports are now subject to drawbacks from the Republic of Niger, which forbids access to anybody without a legitimate international passport.
This action comes after the nation recently withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States, joining Mali and Burkina Faso in doing so.
New immigration policies are being put in place at crossings like Illela (Nigeria) and Konni (Niger), even if the country’s border with Nigeria remains open.
However, because Nigerien authorities do not accept the ECOWAS passport as a legitimate form of identification, cross-border traders and commuters are currently facing challenges.
The development was verified by merchant Alhaji Mansur Abdullah, who often travels between the two countries.
He said, “I believe there is a move to abolish the ECOWAS passport as a means of travelling here; they have started harassing us if we are entering the country.
“Some of our people are being turned back home. We learnt that there is a new passport being issued now to everyone coming to Niger Republic to replace the old ECOWAS passport.
“Some of our people are getting scared of the aftermath of all these issues, which have started to affect our business and trading activities”
According to a source in Taiwan, a state in Niger Republic, border officials have started turning back individuals relying solely on the ECOWAS passport.
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“Some of our people have already been sent home. The authorities insist on their national passport, making it difficult for traders and travellers,” he explained.
According to Abubakar Isa, a commercial driver on the Illela-Konni road, Niger’s security forces have started taking advantage of the situation to coerce tourists. He added that travellers were being assaulted, extorted and exploited due to this development.
“They demand between 5,000 to 10,000 CFA before allowing those with an ECOWAS passport to pass. If you can’t produce Niger’s new identification document, they take you to their office and pressure you to pay a bribe.
“Once they stop either the vehicle or motorcycle at their border, they take you to their office and make the demand for the passport, which they know we don’t have, they then collect money as bribe before you can be allow to go, “ he added.
Trade and cross-border mobility have not been affected immediately by Niger’s exit from ECOWAS, according to Illela merchant Alhaji Nuhu Abubakar.
He said, “We have continued our normal activities as usual, and there is no sign of an impending closure.
“The border remains open on both the Nigerian and Nigerien sides. We’ve heard rumours that the military junta in Niger is considering restricting motorcycle movement between the two countries, but for now, nothing concrete has been decided.”
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A total ban on ECOWAS passports has not yet been confirmed by official Nigerien government communication but impacted passengers worry that things might become worse and make cross-border travel and commerce more difficult.
When contacted on Monday, Head of Communication ECOWAS Commission, Joel Ahofodji., said the regional bloc was unaware of Niger Republic’s policy to bar ECOWAS passport holders.
Forming A New Alliance With Mali, Burkina Faso
The Explainer reported that Niger Republic joined Mali and Burkina Faso to form a new block on the 29th of January.
The regional organisation is named the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). It is a confederation of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The journey to the formation of the organisation commenced in 2024 when three military-led government pronounced their intention to exit ECOWAS. Although the organisation came to live months after a strained relation existed between the military juntas and the leadership of the regional bloc.
This was heightened primarily by issues related to security, governance and foreign influence.
The Explainer reported that ECOWAS had imposed severe sanctions on these nations following military coups that overthrew civilian governments.
These sanctions, later lifted in an attempt to prevent their departure, had already inflicted significant economic hardship. Despite diplomatic efforts, the three countries remained steadfast in their resolve, accusing ECOWAS of serving Western interests—particularly those of France—rather than prioritising regional security.
