President Bola Tinubu has 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.
This directive 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.
ECOWAS leaders had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the President directed that the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger be lifted immediately:
“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.”
The statement added that President Tinubu also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.
During its 24th session, ECOWAS said it was lifting sanctions it imposed on Niger to ameliorate the suffering of its people.
Regarding sanctions against Niger, the regional bloc authority “decides to lift with immediate effect the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger: Closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger; Institution of ECOWAS no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger; Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger; Freeze of all service transaction including utility services and electricity to Niger Republic; Freeze of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks; Freeze of assets of the Niger State, 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 ban on government officials and their family members.”
The regional bloc had imposed the sanctions after the military coup in July 2023 deposed the democratically elected government of Mohamed Bazoum
