President Bola Tinubu has instructed the reopening of Nigeria’s land and air borders with the Niger Republic, aligning with the directive from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, revealed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Ngelale clarified that the presidential directive adheres to the decision made by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government during its extraordinary summit held on February 24, 2024, in Abuja.
Furthermore, he stated that all other sanctions imposed on West African countries have been lifted with immediate effect.
“ECOWAS leaders had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea,” the statement read.
“The President has 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 the Niger Republic. Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between Nigeria and Niger, as well as a 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 presidential spokesman explained that his principal also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.
Following the military coup in the Niger Republic on July 26, 2023, which toppled President Mohamed Bazoum, ECOWAS imposed several sanctions on the country.
Last month, the regional bloc lifted some financial and economic sanctions on Guinea and other sanctions on Mali, saying the political and targeted sanctions on the Niger Republic remain.
See the full statement below:
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
NIGERIA OPENS LAND AND AIR BORDERS WITH REPUBLIC OF NIGER, LIFTS OTHER SANCTIONS
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.
The President has directed that the following sanctions imposed on the Republic of Niger be lifted immediately:
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID and BOAD.
(5) Travel bans on government officials and their family members.
President Tinubu has also approved the lifting of financial and economic sanctions against the Republic of Guinea.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 13, 2024
