President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate reopening of the country’s land and air borders with the Republic of Niger in compliance with a directive from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity said on Wednesday.
Ngelale stated that the presidential directive was as a result of the decisions made at the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government’s Extraordinary Summit held on February 24, 2024, in Abuja. An agreement was reached to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
These sanctions included the closure of land and air borders between Nigeria and Niger Republic, an ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger Republic, and the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger.
Additional sanctions that have been lifted include the freezing of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks and commercial banks, the 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. The lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea was also approved.
“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.” he added
Meanwhile, the border closure had adverse implications on trade competitiveness and exports, necessary for the revival and stability of the domestic economy. Goods belonging to traders and other Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including perishable items and processed commodities with expiry dates, were stranded at the borders for several months during the closure.
The reopening of the borders marks a significant step towards restoring economic activities and strengthening regional integration.
