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 that country and the Republic of Guinea.
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, presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale announced today.
ECOWAS leaders, at its extra ordinary summit on Abuja, had agreed to lift economic sanctions against the Republic of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
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“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 Niger Republic.
“Other sanctions lifted are the 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.”
The 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 and 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 were also lifted.
Credible News recalls that Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir-Yusuf last week urged President Bola Tinubu to open land borders to enhance food security in the country.
The governor who stated this during a courtesy visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi lamented the harsh economic conditions being experienced by Nigerians, noting that reopening the borders would check inflation and cut prices of food items.
“Another immediate intervention that can make food available and affordable to our population is for the Federal Government to consider the reopening of the borders and allow free importation of commodities,” he said.
While stressing the need to reopen the borders, Kabir-Yusuf lauded the Customs’ food distribution scheme and called for proactive measures to guard against diversion of the commodities.
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