The Niger Republic has opened its border in the regions of Diffa, Tahoua, Maradi and Dosso a week after the authorities of Nigeria Customs Service following the directive of the Presidency opened the Illela land border between Nigeria and Niger Republic for operations.
Credible News reports that the land border between the two countries was closed as a result of the coup d’état on July 26 and the subsequent sanctions by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
The Nigerien Ministry of Interior was said to have issued instructions to the governors of these border regions on Thursday, to allow the reopening at exactly 12:00 midnight through a radio message broadcast on social networks.
Additionally, the ministry has mandated the governors to enhance controls and security measures along the 1,500-kilometre stretch of the land boundary.
While Nigeria had already opened its border weeks ago after the lifting of ECOWAS sanctions, Niger had not reciprocated the action until now.
However, the border with Benin, a country rich in uranium, remains closed on the Niger side despite Beninese authorities promptly implementing the ECOWAS directive.
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The transitional authorities in Niger had previously cited security concerns as the reason for not reopening the border with their southern neighbors.
The Federal Government had last week Wednesday restored the supply of electricity to the Republic of Niger following the directive of President Bola Tinubu that Nigeria’s land and air borders with the neighboring country be opened.
On August 3, 2023, it was reported that the power supply from Nigeria to the Republic of Niger was stopped as part of the sanctions against the neighboring country by the Economic Community of West African States.
Earlier in August last year, ECOWAS, led by Tinubu, imposed sanctions on Niger following a coup that toppled the country’s President-elect, Mohamed Bazoum, in July 2023. Officers of the Niger Presidential Guard had on July 26, 2023, arrested Bazoum and declared him deposed.
However ECOWAS leaders demanded the full restoration of constitutional order in Niger and declared Bazoum’s arrest and detention illegal.
Also, in compliance with the directive of the President on the immediate reopening of the land border with Niger Republic, the Comptroller, Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi State command, Iheanacho Ojike, reopened Kamba land border.
While re-opening the border, Ojike said Kamba is a strategic border with a major share in Kebbi State revenue generation.
